MARAWI
CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct. 30 (PIA) --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) underscored the importance of cooperatives in
nation-building during the celebration of the 2015 Cooperative Month and
the centennial anniversary of cooperatives in the Philippines
.
Dimnatang
Radia, Cooperative Development Authority-ARMM (CDA-ARMM) administrator,
said cooperatives serve as an instrument in achieving peace and
development in the community.
“They (cooperatives) are our partners in implementing the region’s programs to the ground,” said Radia.
This
year’s celebration started with a parade led by CDA-ARMM held at the
regional government’s compound on October 28. It was participated by
employees and officials of the ARMM as well as different cooperatives
from the first and second districts of Maguindanao.
Simultaneously,
CDA-ARMM launched its “Kapit-Bisig, Coop Natin, Kaya Natin” program.
Radia said the program will help strengthen cooperatives in the region.
“Ang
programang ito ay paraan upang mahikayat natin ang mga kooperatiba at
iba pang mga katuwang natin sa gobyerno upang matulungan at lalo pang
palakasin ang mga kooperatiba sa ating rehiyon. Ito ay ayon rin sa
direktiba ng ating Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman (This program is one
way of convincing the cooperatives as well as our partner agencies in
government to help and further strengthen cooperativism in the region.
This is based on directives from Governor Mujiv Hataman),” said Radia.
Cooperatives
started to operate in the country in 1915 by virtue of Act 2508
providing for the “creation of rural agricultural cooperative
associations.”
CDA-ARMM is mandated to register, regulate
and conduct capacity building activities and trainings in promoting the
viability, growth and sustainability of cooperatives in the region.
To
pursue its mandate, Radia said the agency is currently upgrading its
system of registration from manual to computerize for easy gathering and
access of data on various cooperatives in the region.
CDA-ARMM
is conducting forums on implementing rules and regulations of Republic
Act 9520, also known as the cooperative act of 2008, to update
cooperatives on laws governing them. The agency is also providing
technical assistance and seminars on bookkeeping and management of
cooperatives.
As of date, ARMM has almost 5,000 registered cooperatives. (BPI/APB/PIA-10)
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