The Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) successfully conducted the 4th Segment of its Electronic Cooperative Clinique Program (E-CoopCLiP) on October 30, 2024. The E-CoopCLiP program, aimed at enhancing the digital capabilities of cooperatives, is a series of educational sessions on various aspects of information management. The 4th Segment, centered on “Data Privacy: A Cooperative Call to Adapt to the Evolving Landscape of Information Management,” emphasized the pressing need for data protection in cooperative operations within the digital era.
Atty. Ma. Lourdes P. Pacao, Deputy Administrator of the Registration, Supervision, and Examination Service (RSES), a seasoned expert in the field, rendered Opening Remarks and Rationale. Her remarks underscore essential themes of data privacy, such as safeguarding, trust, confidence, and respect, and how these values are integral to honoring members’ privacy in a technology-driven landscape. Assistant Secretary Santiago S. Lim further underscored the CDA’s commitment to data privacy, sharing insights on how cooperatives can better prepare for and adapt to these evolving information management challenges.
The event’s highlight was the keynote session delivered by Deputy Administrator Leah B. Banagui-Han from the Legal Affairs Service, who also serves as the Authority’s Data Protection Officer. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring that the CDA complies with the Data Privacy Act and other relevant data protection laws. Drawing from her expertise, she led an engaging discussion on the three critical components of the Data Privacy Act:
- Personal Information: Basic data directly associated with an individual.
- Sensitive Personal Information: Sensitive data involving attributes like age, address, and marital status can impact an individual’s reputation.
- Privileged Information: Data arising from protected relationships bound by confidentiality.
DA Leah also addressed cooperative members’ and officers’ obligations to uphold data privacy principles, ensuring compliance with data subject rights and implementing robust security measures. Her session also covered the penalties for potential legal repercussions of non-compliance with data privacy regulations, which can include fines, legal action, and damage to the cooperative’s reputation.
The program concluded with a heartfelt closing message from RSES Director Mildred S. Esguerra, who emphasized the collective responsibility of all cooperative members and officers to uphold data privacy standards. This collective effort is crucial in fostering a secure and trustworthy environment for all.
This segment of E-CoopCLiP, a significant initiative, served as a crucial reminder of the responsibility of cooperatives in protecting member information amidst an ever-evolving digital landscape, fortifying CDA’s commitment to data protection and compliance. N. Olegario
Pictures of the activity can be accessed HERE
