MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Nov. 2 (PIA) -- The Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) is planning for the massive expansion of cooperative membership in this province.
Lawyer Paisalin Tago, CDA Administrator for Mindanao, said one of the agenda of the authority is to increase the total membership to 20 million by 2013, compared to the current total membership of more than seven (7) million, only.
He said the CDA is encouraging cooperatives to register again, as mandated by Republic Act 9520, citing that currently only more than 20,000 cooperatives are registered 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, here, Tago emphasized that putting up a cooperative is a solution to minimize poverty, reduce unemployment, and promote peace and order.
he disclosed that they are also 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 (PCMTDP) 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 will also create appropriate environment for partnership among cooperatives, both local and international, local government units (LGUs), 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.
Furthermore, CDA will also promote cooperativism as the vehicle for social transformation to build strategic and synergistic alliances between and among stakeholders in the cooperative industry.
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