LU COOPS ATTEND NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT

By: Rhea Matilde A. Ballesteros, GPC–SP

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La Union cooperatives joined the 9th National Tripartite Conference for Cooperative Development on September 11-13, 2019 in General Santos City.

Among the 2,000 participants nationwide were cooperatives in the province which include La Union Provincial Government Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative, La Union Employees Electric Cooperative, Tubao Credit Cooperative, Cooperative Bank of La Union, La Union Provincial Cooperative Union and Cooperative Development Officers of the City Government of San Fernando and Provincial Government of La Union.

Sen. Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Cooperatives served as the conference speaker. In his speech, he recognized the vital role of cooperatives in eradicating poverty in the country through their socio-economic programs. He also explained the salient features of the newly passed Republic Act 11364 or the Cooperative Development Authority Charter of 2019, which Zubiri authored.

National agencies such as Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, CDA and Department of Agriculture presented their respective cooperative-related programs and business opportunities for cooperatives.

As benchmark for the cooperatives, the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Dinagat Island, Tacurong City, Province of Batangas and the host LGU General Santos City shared their strategies, experiences and best practices in cooperative development and mainstreaming in the LGUs.

Among the issues and concerns that were raised were on the absence of Cooperative Office and Officer in most LGUs that will oversee the welfare as well as monitor the activties of the cooperatives; CDA policies and requirements; harmonization of the cooperative plans; and the implementation of the new cooperative law.

The National Tripartite Conference is being organized by the League of Cooperative Development Officers of the Philippines and is conducted every two years with the purpose of mainstreaming cooperative development program in local governance.