CDA RO VIII Facilitates Virtual ExeCom, Members Meeting of Finance Co-ops Regional Clustered Organization

On August 18, 2021, the CDA Regional Office VIII fruitfully organized another meeting of the largest among the Regional Clustered Organizations, the Finance Cluster.

. This activity was held via Zoom platform and was participated by thirty-four (34) representatives from the member cooperatives, as well as some of our CDA Officials from the Head and Regional  Office VIII.

The new Regional Director of the CDA Region Office VIII, Mr. Giovanni T. Platero commenced the activity through his positive and warm welcoming message. As his first attendance to the meeting of the Finance Cooperative Cluster, he acknowledged ASEC. Vidal D. Villanueva, III for his constant guidance to the cooperatives in the region. He also shared some updates on the innovations in the office as part of the mechanisms in institutionalizing electronic government services. Likewise, he emphasized that the social media platform is now an important tool in helping cooperatives as they engage themselves in providing the Authority with the information useful in addressing their needs as well as in the crafting of corresponding policies and programs for the benefit of the cooperatives.

He continued to give updates on the concerns in the Finance Cooperatives Cluster which the activity sought to elevate to the top policy makers based on the needs of the cooperatives. Likewise, it was a venue for gathering concerns from the cooperatives being the consultative and coordinating body on matters affecting the cluster.

 

CDA Assistant Secretary Vidal D. Villanueva III, the overall Head of the Finance Cluster expressed his gratitude towards the ExeCom and Member Cooperatives for the levitation of their issues and concerns. He reported to the  cooperatives on the progress of those issues and concerns raised during the first meeting of the organized RCO Finance Cooperatives Cluster, as discussed with the CDA Board of Directors, mainly:

 

1. Policy on the Definite Training Requirement for each Category of the Cooperatives (Micro, Small, Medium and Large)

-Recommendations will be consulted from cooperative leaders all over the country and shall be collated for a harmonized policy on this matter.

2. Policy for Coop Officers Handling Positions in Multiple Cooperatives.

-As the efforts of some cooperative leaders and officers who handle many primary/secondary/tertiary cooperatives are appreciated by the CDA, a recommendation to limit it to three (3) to five (5) cooperatives is subject for scrutiny of all cooperative leaders. This is recommended to ensure soundness and efficiency in the functioning of the cooperatives.

3. Making the Koop Kapatid Program More Effective and Efficient

– Knowing that there is a prohibition of our existing laws and circulars on primary cooperatives investing in other primary cooperatives as part of the Koop Kapatid Program, this matter is being studied now. The Legal team shall finish the process of getting recommendations from the cooperative leaders.

4. For Cooperative Deposit Insurance System

-The CDA Board has discussed this and the Legal Team has been studying it as well as presenting on this matter. The Congress suggested it might as well come up with an Amendment to the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) law, thereby incorporating cooperatives as part of the coverage of the PDIC.

5. Possibility of Coming up with a Cooperative Stabilization Fund

-This fund shall not compete with the other stabilization funds of federations, but to recognize the need and to see to it that the cooperatives could still survive and remain stable despite trying times like the current pandemic. Recommendations from the cooperative leaders on how we can make a process for the cooperative stabilization fund to assure the cooperatives’ stability shall be studied.

6. Suspension on the Imposition of Penalties for the Late Submission of Reportorial Requirements of Cooperatives Due to Pandemic

-Guidelines for the extension of the deadline for the submission of the reportorial Requirements with the CDA until October 15, 2021 without penalty will be disseminated soon.

7. Conversion of the Unused Cooperative Education and Training Fund (CETF) to Community Development Fund (CDF)

– The intention of this representation is to enable cooperatives to assist the Cooperative Members as well the Community. The Cooperative Board of Directors will have the discretion to come up with internal policy on how they will convert their accumulated CETF to CDF.

8.-9. Resolution Requesting Provincial Cooperative Development Council (PCDC) as well as City Cooperative Council (CDC) to Allow the RCO’s Participation in their Regular Meetings and Special Meetings 

-The rationale behind this is for our RCO Representatives per Province to also get updates from the cooperative development councils in their respective provinces and cities. Likewise, for the cooperatives’ issues and concerns to be ventilated to the PCDC and CDC.

10. Resolution for the Financial Institutions to Lower Down the Interest Rate of our Cooperatives’ Loans during this time of COVID Crisis

-This is to appeal before LBP, DBP and other Government Financial Institutions to have their interest rates lowered down so as not to be that oppressive for the cooperatives who availed loans from them.

11. Resolution Requesting the Legal Team to Study the Policy if we can have Standard of Interest Rates / Ceiling Interest Rate to the Loans and Services of the Cooperatives

-This is not totally prescribing how much is the interest rate, but establishing the ceiling or the minimum and maximum rate that the cooperative will impose to the loans and services that they extend to their members.

12. How to Address the Difficulty of Getting Tax Identification Number (TIN) Number of each Cooperative Member as a Requisite for the Cooperative’s Certificate of Tax Exemption (CTE)

– The CDA has submitted its position paper/Legal opinion on this matter and asked assistance from the ARTA. Consequently, ARTA promised to direct and assist the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) so that our cooperative members will no longer experience difficulty in securing their TIN and consequently the cooperative’s CTE.

ASEC. Vidal D. Villanueva III thanked the RCO Finance Cooperatives Cluster’s recommendations and concerns raised as these will certainly help the CDA Board of Directors produce sound policy recommendations that come up with a viable direction for the entire cooperative sector. It only proves the strength that we get from organizing RCOs and having consultations with its officials and member cooperatives. He further affirmed his commitment to work hand in hand with the RCO 8 Finance Cooperatives Cluster.

Ms. Luz H. Yringco, the RCO 8 Finance Cooperatives Cluster President, expressed her joy and appreciation as she perceives that the CDA indeed listens. According to her, concerns were acted upon promptly, and those aired by the cooperatives during the previous meetings were heard. As a result, all the meetings became productive. Likewise, the cooperative sector will have a lot of work to do in partnership with the CDA.

Other concerns raised during this meeting were (a) Coming up with a strategy to speed up processing of vehicle loan applications such as complying with the requirements of the banks, and the Fleet Management Training which the Transport cooperatives are required to undergo. They are hoping that this training will be available here in Region 8 as it is usually conducted in Manila; (b) Lowering down the interest rate, with consideration on balancing it with the new Memorandum Circular on Performance Audit Report (PAR) as financial ratios are ought to be sustained; (c) Gradual implementation of performance assessment with capacity building on Stability, Turn-Over Ratio, Efficiency, Profitability, and Structure of Assets (STEPS) as there is a need to look into its adaptability in times of pandemic; and, (d) Reducing requirements in transforming into Multipurpose Cooperative as cooperatives find preparation of feasibility a challenge. Dir. Platero assured to help the cooperatives’ concern starting with coming up with a template for the feasibility study that they can use. Further, Ms. Jornales affirmed that the Field Offices as well as the Region VIII Office is always open to assist the cooperatives. Conclusively, negotiations and assessments will be conducted by the CDA to help for these concerns to be addressed and to give ease to cooperatives.

The activity was concluded with a message from Mr. Nelson D. Bernardo, Vice-President of RCO 8 Finance Cooperatives’ Cluster expressing appreciation, recognition and support to the Finance Cluster Head, CDA Head Office and Region Eight (8) Officials as well as to the Finance Cooperatives’ Cluster whose dynamic participation made the meeting effective, constructive, and worthwhile.