CDA-NCR and Taguig City Hold Successful “Ugnayan sa Kooperatiba” in Celebration of International Cooperative Day 2025

TAGUIG CITY, Philippines — In line with the International Cooperative Day 2025, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), in partnership with the City Government of Taguig through the Taguig City Cooperative Development Office, successfully conducted Ugnayan sa Kooperatiba on July 5, 2025, at the Taguig Convention Center.

The event brought together over 500 representatives from Taguig City Cooperatives from various sectors and was attended by key city officials, including Mayor Lani Cayetano, Congressman Ading Cruz, Congressman Jorge Bacobo, City Council Members, Taguig City Cooperative Development Office Head, Ms. Lecira V. Juarez and CDA Officials led by Assistant Secretaries Myrla Paradillo and Vergel Hilario.

Also in attendance were representatives from national government agencies and institutions, including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Credit Information Corporation (CIC), TESDA NCR, DOLE NCR, Office of Transport Cooperatives, Landbank of the Philippines – Taguig Branch, Department of Science and Technology NCR (DOST-NCR), and the Taguig City Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO).

Key Issues Raised During the Forum

From the Credit Information Corporation (CIC):
• Service Provider Accreditation: No accreditation system exists yet; CIC is assessing its feasibility.
• Data Security: CIC has maintained a strong security framework since 2008, with no recorded breaches. It committed to accountability in case of any incident.
• System Accessibility: Cooperatives are encouraged to join CIC Micro Sessions for guidance through Stage 2 of the compliance process.
• Credit Improvement: New coop loan products can help improve credit scores if properly reported to CIC.
• Moratorium Request: CIC awaits the formal submission of the UMMC Manifesto and will respond accordingly.

From the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA):
• External Auditor Accountability: Complaints against Cooperative External Auditors (CEAs) are handled through the PRC grievance mechanism.
• Policy Development: While no standard template exists yet for cooperative policy alignment with the Philippine Cooperative Development Plan, the National Advisory Council is monitoring. CIC Static Payment may be sourced from the Optional Fund with General Assembly approval.
• CBCR Tool: The Cooperative Business Continuity and Resilience tool is under pilot testing, with plans for LGU partnerships for disaster resilience training.

From the Taguig BPLO:
• Permit Requirements: Tax Declaration and Tax Clearance are mandatory for new business permits.
• New Business Ventures: Cooperatives must amend their business permits and submit revised Articles of Cooperation and By-Laws (ACBL) when expanding operations.

The event underscored the importance of sustained cooperation between the public sector and cooperatives. Through policy dialogue, regulatory updates, and inter-agency support, the CDA and Taguig City reaffirmed their commitment to empowering cooperatives as drivers of inclusive and sustainable development.

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