Cooperatives in region VIII were gathered virtually as the Supervisory and Examination Section (SES) of the CDA Region Office VIII organized an orientation on the Memorandum Circulars: (a) 2022-01: Regulatory Relief in the Conduct of Annual Regular General Assembly Meeting (ARGAM) of Cooperatives; and, (b) 2022-02: Regulatory Relief for Cooperatives Affected by Typhoon Odette, as well as an Overview of the Cooperative Assessment Information System (CAIS). This was positively participated by one hundred forty-two (142) cooperatives and was successfully held last February 11, 2022, via zoom.

The virtual activity was opened by warm welcome remarks by the CDA R8 dynamic and innovative Regional Director and provided the relevant updates of the Authority.

The very objective of this orientation was for the office to effectively inform and disseminate the memorandum circulars to all concerned cooperatives as well as to impart an overview of the newly developed online system for the submission of the annual mandatory reports called the Cooperative Assessment Information System (CAIS) while waiting for its roll out this year.

The discussion also focused on MC 2022-01 Regulatory Relief in the Conduct of Annual Regular General Assembly Meeting (ARGAM) for the CY 2022 Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, as well as the requirements, election rules and guidelines, provisions, and sanctions. It was highlighted that the ARGAM and election of officers shall be conducted not later than September 30 of this year 2022 through the various options available to cooperatives be it on a face-to-face/ physical mass gathering subject to Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines, videoconferencing, or a combination of the two, and, whether simultaneously or sequentially.

MC 2022-02 or Regulatory Relief for Cooperatives Affected by Typhoon Odette provides cooperatives that sustained a total loss of at least fifty (50) percent damage to property and records may if they apply, be relieved from: (a) the submission of mandatory reports for FY 2021; (b) payment of fines and penalties for failure to submit the required reports on time except for those incurred prior to the occurrence of the fortuitous event; and, (c) cancellation of the conduct of 2022 Annual Regular General Assembly Meeting (ARGAM). However, it was emphasized that these affected cooperatives shall still be required to submit their Annual Tax Incentives Report (ATIR) as this shall still be consolidated and submitted to the Bureau of Internal Revenue BIR).

Indeed, the conduct of these webinars or online meetings gives the Authority and the cooperatives a venue for dialogues and dissemination of circulars and other information.

This further assures the cooperatives that CDA truly listens and works hard for the betterment of the sector.

The participating cooperatives expressed their appreciation to the office for its informative and expedient conclusion of the orientation. 

Prepared by Supervisory and Examination Section:

MARK B. MAPANAO, Sr. CDS – SES   |  LORAINE M. YU, CDS II  |  RECHEL T. CAPILI, Administrative Aide IV