Lawyers from the Head Office and the Regional Extension Offices, headed by Deputy Administrator for Legal Affairs Service, Atty. Leah B. Banagui-Han, Acting Legal Division Chief, Atty. August Owen Magdato, and Adjudication Division Chief Atty. Ma. Caridad dela Cruz Graza pose for a photo opportunity with Resource Speakers Atty. Frediswenda B. Beñas, Division Chief of the Prosecution Unit of the Department of Trade and Industry – Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau, and Atty. Ritche Y. Parenas, Attorney V of the Office for Legal Affairs of the Civil Service Commission.
The CDA, through the Legal Affairs Service (LAS), conducted the annual gathering of its Legal Officers from the respective Regional Extension Offices from May 29 – June 2, 2023 at the Madison 101 Hotel, Aurora Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City.
This year’s theme for the Convergence is ‘Servitio Ultra Sui’ or to embody the mantra of Service Beyond Self in the pursuit of the CDA for the advancement of the cooperative movement in the country and globally through skills enhancement of CDA Legal Officers from the Regional Extension Offices.
Distinguished Resource Speakers graced the assembly and imparted their knowledge in the various areas of practice of Cooperative Laws.
Atty. Frediswenda B. Beñas, Division Chief of the Prosecution Unit of the Department of Trade and Industry – Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau, and Atty. Ritche Y. Parenas, Attorney V of the Office for Legal Affairs of the Civil Service Commission discussed the Investigation Process and the steps in its conduct respectively.
Meanwhile, DDG. Vidal D. Villanueva, the Deputy Director General for Special Concerns of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority gave his inspirational message to the lawyers on their sworn duty and fulfillment of the mandate of the CDA.
Subsequently, Ms. Teresita Leighlany T. Cariaso, Chief of the Cooperative Research, Information, and Training Division of the CDA, tackled vital points in Policy Making/Formulation.
On the other hand, Atty. Mohammad Jamaludin A. Guinomla, rendered a Prosecution Skills Training anchored mainly on his experience in practice which aims at improving the case build-up techniques of the Legal Officers.
Finally, Atty. Ali Loraine V. Manrique, Officer-In-Charge – Director of the Training, Accreditation, and Promotion Service of the Office of the Alternative Dispute Resolution facilitated a workshop on Reframing and Dialogue Framework, which is a training for Dialogue Facilitators.
In his message, Undersecretary Joseph B. Encabo echoed calls for a united CDA all for the cooperative movement amidst the adversities. “I hope that we are one with this as we will encounter a lot of challenges. We have proven, time and again, that there is strength in solidarity,” Chairman Encabo emphasized.
In the same vein, Assistant Secretary Myrla B. Paradillo posits that CDA has been stronger than ever, conquering trials it has faced with the aid of the Legal Affairs Service.
“The CDA, with the help of the LAS, is on the right track and stronger than ever. I am very honored and privileged that it has lived up to its mandate of protecting and advancing cooperativism,” the Acting Administrator proudly shared.
At the end of the Convergence, the body of lawyers presented the following outputs to streamline its procedure in the exercise of their functions:
- Internal Guidelines in the Conduct of Investigation;
- CDA Notice of Charge;
- Compendium of Penalties; and
- Dissolution, Liquidation, Cancellation, and Delisting Strategies/Monitoring.
To cap the event, Deputy Administrator for Legal Affairs Service, Atty. Leah B. Banagui-Han thanked all lawyers for their time and assured them that activities like these are priorities. “With outpouring gratitude, thank you to our dear lawyers for your heart for service. Expect that we will be pushing for similar training and seminars for your development,” the leadership of the LAS disclosed.
