March–April 2025 — In a bid to enhance the legal awareness and regulatory compliance among cooperatives in the region, the CDA Region VIII Extension Office successfully hosted two educational legal forums.

The first, held on March 21, 2025, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Region VIII successfully launched the first session of its CDA Legal Education Hub via Zoom. This initiative, organized by the Region VIII Extension Office under the CDA Laws Awareness Program (CLAP), through its Legal Section, aimed to equip cooperatives with updated knowledge on legal compliance, particularly in relation to securing their Certificate of Compliance (COC), since the effectivity of the previous year’s COC is only until the 30th of April of the following year, particularly, April 30, 2025 for this year.

With CDA personnel from the Legal Section and the Supervision and Examination Section (SES), including Atty. Jasper Carias, Sr. CDS Mark Mapanao, and CDS II Rechel Capili, the forum covered key issues like MC 2024-16, MC 2025-02, and CDA reportorial requirements, along with simplified submissions for micro-cooperatives. A major highlight was the MC 2025-02, which introduced new requirements, including a sworn statement from all Board members for COC issuance. Atty. Carias also revisited the prohibitions under RA 9520, emphasizing prohibited acts by cooperative officers and related sanctions, during the discussion on MC 2024-16.

The session was well-attended, with cooperative officers and members actively engaging in discussions. It offered a vital platform for reinforcing cooperative governance, compliance, and legal education across the region. The first session set the stage for more learning, with a follow-up forum on April 4, 2025, with the title “Key Highlights of RA 9520: Essential Provisions for Cooperative Officers,” focusing on the essential roles and responsibilities of cooperative officers under the Code. This session emphasized governance, member rights, and financial guidelines, underscoring the importance of legal knowledge in fostering ethical and compliant cooperative operations.

This series promises to empower cooperative leaders, with more forums planned to continue advancing legal awareness in the cooperative sector throughout the year.

Prepared by: LYDITT ISSA B. GALBAN, CDS II/Staff, Legal Section