by: CRISTINE C. CANTES, CDS II
As part of the celebration of Magayon Festival in the province of Albay, the Provincial Government of Albay thru Albay Provincial Cooperative, Enterprise and Manpower Development Office (APCEMDO) initiated a Magayon Coop Forum in partnership with Cooperative Development Authority Albay Provincial Office last May 14, 2024. The activity served as an avenue for information dissemination and a bridge to find solutions on concerns and compliance by the cooperative to regulations of different agencies as well as opportunities and programs that they may access or avail.
This momentous event has attended by 242 participants- 84 male and 157 females from different cooperatives in the province with a total of 82 cooperatives including city and municipal cooperative development officers. Aside from invited resource speakers, City and Municipal Development Cooperative Officers, there are 12 coops who have showcased their products namely; Albay Capitol Employees Multipurpose Cooperative, Albay Coconut Farmers Entrepreneurs Multipurpose Cooperative, Camote Creations Farmers and Entrepreneurs Multipurpose Cooperative, Laudato si Agriculture Cooperative, Men and Women of Albay Agriculture Cooperative, Tunay Tapat Lahing Pilipino Cooperative, Entrepreneurs Alumni Development Cooperative (EADCOOP), Pioduran Animal Raisers Agriculture Cooperative, Sa Agrarian Reform Irriba Gabos Sa Kauswagan (SARIGAN) Daraga ARC Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Mt. Mayon Pili Producers Cooperative, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Socio-Economic Development Program Multi-Purpose Cooperative . They had approximately Php 37,615.00 total sales. There were also 20 students who participated and observed during the event from Cotmon National High School.
The program started with preliminaries which include an opening prayer through an audio-visual presentation, singing of the Philippine National Anthem and cooperative pledge. Talented dancers from Albayle Dance Troupe was shown during the opening salvo which was followed by recognizing participants through Ms. Regin M. Aycocho, CDS II. An opening remark was delivered by Ms. Dorothy F. Colle, Provincial Government Dept. Head-Provincial Tourism, Culture and Arts Office. Atty Sheina Marie C. Onrubia-Dela Cruz, Provincial Administrator of Provincial Government of Albay, cheerfully greeted participants and supports the cooperatives. The event was also graced with the presence and words of wisdom of Atty. Emilio D. Escueta III, Acting Regional Director of Cooperative Development Authority -Regional Office V. Despite the busy and hectic schedule of the governor of Albay, Hon. Atty. Edcel Greco A. B. Lagman ensured that he wouldn’t miss the big event of cooperatives. He expressed his support to programs and activities for cooperatives and acknowledges the effort of different agencies and stakeholders that will help for the success of cooperatives. With an overwhelming number of attendees, our governor has announced that there will be a raffle in the afternoon. This event was also attended by our Acting ARD, Engr. Zaldy G. Bermejo and Ms. Angustia Gilda C. Ragay, Sr. CDS of Registration Section to assist coops with concerns on registration and amendments. We also took this opportunity to invite ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative to interview prospective micro cooperatives for Koop Kapatid Program.
This event was full with learnings from invited resource speakers coming from different agencies that ensure participants to be updated on their regulations, programs, services and activities. For the morning session, the first discussant was Mr. Armel Alcantara, Accounts Officer from Landbank of the Philippines-Legazpi who presented the programs and services that coops may avail as well as the requirements for submission of interested cooperatives. Ms. Rebecca D. Ancanan, Group Head, South Luzon Group from Small Business Corporation was the 2nd resource speaker that tackled services for coop with lending or credit activities.
In the afternoon, Hon. Glenda O. Bongao, Vice-Governor of Albay also gave a heartwarming message for the cooperatives. The next speaker was from Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Ms. Mary Ann s. Obia, Chief, Assessment Section of RDO 067 who discussed the certificate of tax exemption and RA No. 11976 otherwise known as the “Ease of Paying Taxes Act” and Atty. Job M. Guanzon, Legal Division of BIR Revenue Region No. 10. Our last speaker was Engr. Roy V. Borja, Project Development Officer for Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Regional Office V who presented the modernization program for transport sector. Every after the discussion of the speakers, the cooperative participants were given the chance to raise their queries or concerns in the different agencies/stakeholders’ present. Furthermore, all questions raised were positively and satisfactorily answered by the resource speakers.
The Provincial Government of Albay with the presence of Gov. Atty. Edcel Greco A.B. Lagman awarded certificates and cash incentives amounting to Php 5,000.00 to each coop exhibitors. In addition to this, we have given certificate of participation for students of Cotmon National High School for attending Magayon Coop Forum 2024. The activity ended with a raffle from the governor giving 14 stand fans for lucky cooperators in the province. Indeed, the success of this event is through the hands-on collaboration and strong partnership of the Provincial Government of Albay through the APCEMDO, Cooperative Development Authority as well as the active participation of cooperators all over the province.
Photo Credits: Albay Provincial Information Office page, APCEMDO Personnel and CDA-Albay
