ORANI, BATAAN—In line with its commitment to strengthen the registration, regulatory, and supervisory functions of the Authority, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), through its Registration, Supervision and Examination Service (RSES), successfully conducted its Year-End Assessment and Planning Conference on December 1 to 4, 2025, at Magarra Hotel, Orani, Bataan.
The four-day activity gathered leaders and personnel from the Registration Division and the Supervision and Examination Division (SED) to review performance, assess gaps, and set strategic priorities for 2026. The conference formally opened with the “Welcome Remarks and Rationale” delivered by RSES Director Mildred S. Esguerra, who underscored the importance of unified direction and reflective assessment for effective planning, drawing as well from her previous experiences as an inspector in Bataan.
Following the opening message, the program proceeded with the presentation of the Registration Division, which reported its FY 2025 accomplishments versus targets, results of its year-end assessment, and the status of its budget utilization, outlining the division’s efforts in streamlining registration processes and improving service delivery.
This was then followed by SED, which presented its own FY 2025 performance, findings of the SED/SES Year-End Assessment, its budget utilization, and the results of the Internal Audit. The reports emphasized the need to strengthen compliance monitoring and regulatory guidelines to ensure that cooperatives operate for the welfare of their members and communities.
The second day featured RSES Deputy Administrator Atty. Ma. Lourdes P. Pacao, who delivered a comprehensive discussion on General Guidance and Administrative Advisory. She underscored the need for vigilance in aligning cooperative operations with cooperative principles, stating that “supervision and examination must continuously assess whether the cooperative’s operations, and governance structure, adhere to the cooperative identity. She cautioned against organizations that are “cooperatives by form but corporations by substance,” or, worse, those exploited by “misfit officers.” She also reminded the workforce, “when we work, we should work with clarity, purpose, and commitment.”
The day continued with a writeshop on the 2026 Priorities, jointly facilitated by the Registration Division and SED, ensuring that upcoming plans are grounded in data, lessons, and operational realities. This was followed by a special message from Assistant Secretary Myrla B. Paradillo, who emphasized the crucial role of RSES in fulfilling the overall mandate of CDA:
“When the registration and the regulation succeed, the whole CDA succeeds.” “That’s why we have an assessment, to determine saan tayo nagkulang at kung saan tayo dapat mag-improve. Continue the hard work, but with a heart.”
The third day focused on the preparation of the FY 2025 Second Semester DPCR/IPCR, jointly conducted by the Registration Division and SED/SES. The session aimed to ensure that performance commitments accurately reflect the work of the services and support accountability within the agency. Paving the way for a special message, OIC Administrator Ray R. Elevazo provided an inspirational message, emphasizing teamwork and system efficiency:
“We can be small but an effective force. Because of a proper system, we can move forward.”
The four-day conference reaffirmed RSES’s dedication to enhancing the CDA’s registration and regulatory functions. Through a thorough assessment, strategic planning, and strong leadership, RSES enters 2026 with renewed focus, ensuring that cooperatives nationwide continue to grow, remain true to their identity, and operate with integrity.
