TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Officers and board directors representing various cooperatives in Tabuk City participated in a cooperative forum held at the St. Thomas Church Cooperative Building, featuring the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Chairperson. A key segment of the forum was an open forum, allowing cooperative members to directly pose questions and queries to the CDA Chairman. This direct line of communication aimed to address specific concerns of the farmers and guide them in the effective management of their respective cooperatives.
During the event, the CDA Chairperson USEC Alexander Raquepo made an appeal to the cooperatives to integrate youngsters into their programs. He emphasized that involving children at an early stage would instill in them an understanding of the vital role and importance of cooperatives within the community. In connection with this, the significance of the National Federation of Youth Cooperatives was highlighted as an umbrella organization dedicated to uniting, representing, and supporting youth cooperatives nationwide. Its primary function is to bolster the youth cooperative movement through leadership, guidance, advocacy, capacity-building, and networking opportunities.
USEC Raquepo also provided important updates regarding the Certificate of Compliance (COC). He informed the attendees that a COC is an official document issued by the CDA, verifying that a cooperative has met all mandatory annual reportorial requirements as stipulated by the Philippine Cooperative Code (RA 9520). Crucially, he announced a significant change: the renewal of the Certificate of Compliance will transition from a yearly requirement to a triennial one, starting next year. This adjustment aims to streamline the process for registered cooperatives.
In Tabuk City, there are almost 200 operating macro and micro cooperatives and 78 of them have not yet acquired their COC’s.
The forum concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on a cooperative sisterhood program, further fostering collaboration and mutual support among the participating cooperatives. By Jesse Maguiya
