COTABATO CITY – 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.
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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 computerized for easy gathering and access of data on various cooperatives in the region. As of date, ARMM has almost 5,000 registered cooperatives.
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.
This year’s celebration carries the theme “Kooperatiba: Ika-100 Taong Pagpupugay, Tulay sa Maunlad na Buhay.” (Bureau of Public Information)
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