CDA Chairperson Usec. Joseph B. Encabo laid today to the public the programs and reforms that his leadership has been doing for the first one hundred (100) days of his assumption of office. Among these are the issuance of memorandum circulars on the extension of the validity of Certificates of Compliance (COC) issued last year, instruction to cooperatives to utilize their Community Development Fund (CDF) for social services, and the lifting of the moratorium in the registration of Federation of Cooperatives, and Cooperative Unions. In addition to these, CDA is working on sixteen (16) other memorandum circulars and issuances for review and public consultations. These regulations are meant to help alleviate the situation of the cooperative members and their communities at this time of pandemic
In compliance with the R.A. No. 11032, also known as the Ease of Doing Business Act, CDA is working to trim down the cooperatives’ reportorial and registration requirements. This will be tailor-fitted according to the cooperatives’ capacities and categories.
The Byaheng Koop Program was another initiative meant to conduct purposive and intentional visits to micro, small, and medium cooperatives across the country in order to identify their actual needs and provide calibrated and appropriate responses to their concerns at the operational and policy levels.
Aside from these, Chairperson Encabo’s first 100 days covered the following activities:
- Distribution of twenty-six (26) laptops to twenty-six (26) micro & small cooperatives to help them in their reportorial duties and to promote digitization among cooperatives;
- Signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on the Digitization Program with Davao City Local Government Unit (LGU) Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio;
- Assistance to former rebels and guidance in forming their own cooperatives;
- Consultative meetings with micro & small cooperatives engaged in the agri-industry (cacao, rice, rubbers) in Mati City & Baganga, Davao Oriental;
- Consultative meetings and distribution of laptops to tricycle & jeepney drivers, PWDs, and Porters and Phil missionaries’ cooperatives in Bohol;
- Discussions with the private sector operating in Morong Special Economic Zone regarding possible partnership & assistance to Indigenous Peoples in Bataan.
In developing linkages and partnerships with the other government agencies, CDA, through the leadership of Usec. Encabo, signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) last 27 May 2021. This partnership aims to enhance the technical and entrepreneurial capacities of the beneficiaries of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization program and farmers’ associations that are willing to be organized as cooperatives.
The Authority and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) also established a partnership for the capacity building of fisherfolk cooperatives and the provision of market opportunities for them.
Likewise, the Authority and the Development Bank of the Philippines sealed a partnership to promote the strengthening of cooperative enterprises through financial & operational management trainings.
Usec. Encabo stressed that CDA shall continue to serve the Filipinos by advancing inclusive growth through the cooperative sector. With the spirit of cooperativism in his heart and mind, Usec. Encabo assures that CDA will bring more fruits of collective efforts in the days to come.
For more programs and information about the Authority, the public are encouraged to visit its official website: www.cda.gov.ph and facebook account, CDA Philippines. –MDE/PS
