DAET, Camarines Norte (PIA) –  Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Provincial Cooperative Development Specialist Erlinda Valera  lauded various stakeholders who  helped strengthen cooperatives in the province through various  year-round technical and financial support .

This was discussed during the “Talakayan sa PIA” cum radio program of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Camarines Norte with Valera as one of the guests. She was joined by the  Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), and the Camarines Norte Federation of Cooperatives (CANOFECO) held recently via Zoom.

Valera said that in order to advocate awareness about cooperatives, the month of October was declared as the National Cooperative Month under Republic Act. 11502. In this province, various activities were conducted at the provincial and municipal levels. 

The towns of Jose Panganiban, Labo, Paracale, Basud, Talisay, Mercedes conducted various activities in their respective municipalities. These activities  include  the opening program, motorcade, thanksgiving mass, literary contest, slogan, poster making, “padunungan” mangrove planting, livelihood training, and tree planting among others.

There are 195 registered cooperatives in the province,  12 of which are newly registered, 74 are compliant, 50 are non-compliant, 12 were issued with show-cause orders, and 47 were dissolved.  The CDA and other stakeholders provide technical and financial intervention to struggling cooperatives.

The Local Government Units (LGUs) also  provide funds for the conduct of mandatory training for newly registered cooperatives.

Last October 20, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed about mentoring or the Kapatid Program wherein the “big brothers” are the CANOFECO, Labo Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Jose Panganiban National High School Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Basud Development. Cooperative will provide technical assistance to small cooperatives.  Thirteen (13) small cooperatives signified to join the program.

She said that majority of the town has also organized a Municipal Cooperative Development Council (MCDC) while Daet and Basud have already a plantilla Municipal Cooperative Development Officer along with Labo that created a position recently.

OPAg Provincial Cooperative Coordinator Manuel Odi of the provincial government of Camarines Norte said that one of their activities is the hanging of streamers in offices and some government agencies.

Another activity for the celebration is the first regional conference of consumers marketing producers and logistics cluster which was held Oct. 20. This was spearheaded by the CANOFECO, Camarines Norte Devt. Cooperative (CANDEVCO), Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines (CISP), and Signal and signal Agritech in partnership with the CDA and Provincial Cooperative Devt. Council (PCDC).

The PCDC where OPAg is a member, sponsored the training of 24 batches this year especially the mandatory, fundamentals of cooperative, coop management and governance;  and capability training.

Odi said that they encourage farmers’ associations to organize their groups into cooperatives. They also provide technical support in the process of application.

The OPAg is also organizing the Credit Surety Fund Cooperative which they allocated P3 million. This will serve as a guarantee to those who will avail of loans.

CANOFECO Executive Officer Norma Dasco said that their federation is a training provider, giving capacity building in partnership with the PCDC and CDA. She said that they hosted the fun walk which was participated by the cooperatives.

They also provide free training on financial management and credit and risk management.

CANOFECO  serves as the voice of the cooperative in Camarines Norte through the interventions they  provide. This is  also through the help of international non-government organizations.

Dasco said that CANOFECO is also part of the Land Bank’s Countryside Development Foundation Incorporated. They provide loan to small cooperatives funded by the Land Bank of the Phils. (RBManlangit-PIA5/Camarines Norte).