For the first time in 26 years since its earned a seat in Congress, the Cooperative National Confederation of Cooperatives (Coop-NATCCO) current representative visited Catanduanes and met with officials of more than 30 local cooperatives last week.
Rep. Felimon Espares and his staff briefed participants in the forum held at the Pinoy Lingap Damayan Cooperative (PLDC) Building in Sipi, Bato on the partylist group’s current initiatives in the House of Representatives, particularly its leading role in the bid to craft a revised Cooperative Code.
While the group has maintained at least one seat in Congress since 1998, it saw its two seats during the 2007-2019 period reduced to just one. In the 2022 elections, it gained only 346,341 votes or less than 1 percent, compared to its heyday in 2010 when it garnered nearly a million votes.
Coop-NATCCO National Directorate Atty. Bienvenido Larosa noted in the last elections, the group got only 311 votes in Catanduanes despite the presence of many cooperatives.
He admitted that the partylist is partly to blame for the poor showing as it has not actively connected with cooperatives in the island since 1998.
Espares and his staff later presided over the organization of the Coop-NATCCO Partylist representation in Catanduanes, with the chapter officers composed of Crispin Lopez (PROVEMCO), president; Anita Tasarra (PLDC), vice president; Judith Villareal (CACCI), secretary; Emma Grienzo (DAREMPCO), treasurer; Engr. Romeo Belaro, Jr. (CATROPA), auditor; and, Rosemarie Yutan, provincial coordinator.
In his message, Governor Joseph Cua cited the invaluable role cooperatives play in fabric of the local economy but stressed that it cannot survive without adequate support.
He disclosed that the newly created mandatory position of Provincial Cooperative Development Officer, now held by former CDA staffer June Ophar Dy, will streamline all help that the provincial government can give to ensure support for Catanduanes cooperatives.
As part of this effort, Cua said the province recently secured two projects from Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) covering the establishment of coconut and abaca processing plants in Gigmoto and Caramoran towns.
There will be no more need to make copra as the plant will do the job of turning coconut meat into oil while the coconut water of mature nuts will also be packaged, he said.
With the awarding of the project set by next month, the governor said the projects could be operational by the end of this year.
The provincial government could grant capitalization to cooperatives to deliver nuts to Biong in Gigmoto as transporting copra to Quezon would be a thing of the past.
In adding value to the coconut, he noted that the bulk sale of coconut oil is possible as there are regular buyers in the Philippine market.
He likewise urged cooperative leaders in Catanduanes to continue their support for the Coop-NATCCO partylist.
Rep. Espares expressed confidence that House Bill 9673 providing for a new Cooperative Code will be eventually approved by the Senate and signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Among the changes that can be expected in a new or amended Cooperative Code are the removal of the fifty-year limit on operations of cooperatives, an increase in the tax threshold for reserves, that co-ops may use their reserves in investments subject to approval of the general assembly, donation of community development fund to areas where the co-op does not operate (subject to approval by the general assembly), a prescribed allotment of 5% to 10% of net surplus for Cooperative Education and Training Fund (CETF), mandatory membership of all co-ops to a federation and union, mandatory CETF remittance to union and federation, unions will be allowed to engage in business and charge fees, CDA has 15 days to decide on co-op applications, and that upon registration a co-op is mandated to have a manager and bookkeeper.
Overseas Filipinos may soon be allowed to join or even form cooperatives as well. The rules will be drafted by the CDA.