A new milestone welcomes the year of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Region VII Extension Office after successfully organizing the Signing Ceremony of the first Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the CDA Laws Awareness Program (CLAP) and Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP). The partnership was forged between the CDA and University of the Visayas (UV) Gullas Law School Law Clinic on January 24, 2025 at the Moot Court, UV Gullas Law School, Corner D. Jakosalem and Colon Streets, Cebu City.
The CDA Laws Awareness Program is initiated by the CDA – Legal Affairs Service pursuant to Sections 4 (gg) and 19 of Republic Act 11364, or the “Cooperative Development Authority Charter of 2019”. CLAP is an innovative program that advocates cooperative laws and principles to law schools and Law Student Practitioners (LSPs) through the CLEP, an experiential learning and credit-earning teaching course imposed by the Supreme Court of the Philippines to all law schools with the objectives of providing law students with practical knowledge, skills and values indispensable in the application of law.
Meanwhile, UV Gullas College of Law, (more popularly known as the Gullas Law School) opened in 1921, was among the first colleges opened by Visayan Institute Incorporated (VI). It is presently located at the Don Juan Rivera Building, Colon St., Cebu City. A member in good standing of the Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS), it actively participates in its annual convention and projects, notably in the bar examination reforms.
During the MOA Signing Ceremony, the university was represented by Atty. Chevrolie Maglasang Isoto, President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Dean Joseph Randi C. Torregosa. It is the pioneering law school partner of CDA in Region VII for the establishment and implementation of the programs. The CDA was represented by Asec. Myrla B. Paradillo, Cooperative Development Authority Board Member III/OIC Chairperson and Director Cristina H. Villamil, CDA Region VII Extension Office. Also, present during the event were: Atty. Diana A. Velasco, Associate Lawyer Torregosa Galeon Gravador and Tomaneng Law Offices as the Notary Public and selected law students of the said university.
The MOA signing signifies the inception of institutionalizing the partnership between CDA and UV Gullas Law School Law Clinic with the aim of promoting the spirit of cooperativism and social justice to the legal community. Through the CLAP, the LSPs are immersed in the real scenario of the cooperative industry thereby educating them of the substantive and procedural aspects of the cooperative laws, their Implementing Rules and Regulations, and other related laws. The LSPs are exposed to the conduct of trainings and opportunities to render legal services covering registration, regulation, developmental activities, alternative dispute resolution and adjudication. This partnership increases accessibility of legal aid services to cooperatives and their members granting them vital support to know, understand and exercise their legal rights. From these collaborative efforts between the CDA and the academic institution, the cooperative sector is ensured with quality legal assistance in their endeavors.
OIC Chairperson Asec. Myrla B. Paradillo personally shared her words of acknowledgment to the efforts of both organizations in accepting the challenges and opportunities that may arise within the implementation of the programs. She intensified the significance of the program especially with the emerging issues and concerns relating to the cooperative operations and regulations that need legal services intervention.
The UV Gullas Law School Law Clinic likewise expressed its immense gratitude for making the MOA Signing a reality and making UV as the pioneering institution for CLAP. Atty. Isoto conveyed words of appreciation to CDA 7 for its unparalleled enthusiasm and dynamic collaboration on the said venture.
“The MOA signing today is not just a beginning of something new, exciting and fulfilling, as it signifies the commitment and cooperation between our organizations. We hope that your passion will go beyond the formalities we are witnessing at this moment as we endeavor to make the implementation of our joint programs even more fruitful and meaningful to our stakeholders.” Atty. Isoto expressed.
The successful conduct of the event was spearheaded by Atty. Fritzie S. Lacanaria-Uchibori, Head, Legal Section/R7 CLAP Focal Person and the organizing committee composed of Atty. Ronalyn M. Torres, CDS II/Assistant Legal Officer, Gracia Nenita B. Banogon, Sr. CDS, Cooperative Research, Information and Training Section and other CDA personnel.
The CDA Region VII Extension Office under the remarkable leadership of Director Villamil will continue to uphold “Servitio Ultra Sui” (Service Beyond Self) – by providing learning opportunities and quality legal services to the cooperative sector through the CDA Laws Awareness Program.
-Analyn T. Conocono CDS II
Reference: CDA 7 – UV LAW SCHOOL CLAP MOA SIGNING
