CDA targets expansion of cooperative membership

Friday, November 4, 2011

THE Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) in Northern Mindanao is planning for massive expansion of cooperative membership in the province of Misamis Occidental.
Lawyer Paisalin Tago, CDA administrator for Mindanao, said one of the agenda of the cooperative agency is to increase the membership to 20 million by 2013 from current membership of more than seven million.

He said the CDA is encouraging cooperatives to register, again, as mandated by Republic Act 9520, citing the present 20,000 registered cooperatives is much lower compared to the more than 90,000 registered cooperatives before the enactment of the new cooperative code.

One of the speakers during the recent second provincial cooperative congress held at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol, Tago emphasized that putting up a cooperative is a solution to minimize poverty, reduce unemployment, and promote peace and order.

He also disclosed that they are eyeing conversion of the so-called electric cooperatives (ECs) into genuine cooperatives as a strategy to increase membership.

Under RA 9520, ECs cannot enjoy the privilege of tax exemption unless they are registered with the CDA and registering will mean the member-consumers of ECs will then and there become cooperative members.

Aside from the expansion in membership, the CDA will also boost and enhance its delivery mechanism and provide an enabling environment for the strengthening and development of cooperatives in the country.

As provided in the Philippine Cooperative Medium-Term Development Plan for 2011-2016, the CDA will ensure access of cooperatives to global markets, provide viable linkages and networks to support cooperatives and establish appropriate quality system.

It also creates the appropriate environment for partnership among cooperatives, both local and international, local government units, national line agencies, non-government organizations, people’s organizations, and the private sector.

Such policies will ensure viable, competitive and sustainable cooperatives as engine of growth and development, Tago said. (PR)


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