IF YOU want to drive fast, go alone but if you want to drive far, go with others. Unlike other special bodies where the mayor or barangay captain automatically serves as the chairperson, the Cooperative Development Council (CDC) maybe chaired by any of its members including co-ops, agencies, local officials and other stakeholders.
Benguet is lucky to have CDCs in most of its municipality. The Benguet Provincial CDC stands firm of upholding the developmental programs of the different municipalities. The backing of local government units (LGUs) is instrumental in the strengthening and enhancement of the co-op movement including the assignment of a committee in the Municipal Council. The committee chairperson will be of great help in the crafting of legislations upholding cooperatives.
In Kalinga province, the support of its LGU is evident in the growing number of successful cooperatives. Tabuk City won several recognitions because of its solid upkeep to co-ops.
With the mushrooming of co-ops in the different localities, there should be creation of local co-op councils and committees not only in the municipal or city levels but in the barangay as well. These will help LGU co-op development officers (CDOs) in the efficient implementation of programs, projects and activities especially to highly urbanized barangays.
The CDCs are tasked to coordinate, harmonize and monitor the implementation of various cooperative development plans, programs and projects of National Government Agencies, Government Financial Institutions, LGUs and Non-Government Organizations; to formulate implementing guidelines and create mechanisms to operationalize and monitor the Cooperative Medium Term Development Plans (CMTDP) and; to share resources towards the full realization of such development plans.
In addition, the council shall maintain a database on relevant information concerning the condition of the cooperative movement and periodically conduct information dissemination about the cooperative movement’s contribution to local autonomy. They shall call for meetings to discuss various problems, issues and concerns affecting cooperatives, and to recommend appropriate solutions.
The councils will also be the partner of the CDOs in the formulation of measures for the consideration of the sanggunian and provision of technical assistance in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic services.
Even the 1991 Local Government Code of the Philippines states that LGUs shall promote the establishment and operation of non-governmental organizations and people’s organizations to become active partners in the pursuit of local autonomy.
The Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008 backs the claim that the state shall foster the creation and growth of cooperatives as a practical vehicle for promoting self-reliance and harnessing people power towards the attainment of economic development and social justice.
The creation of councils and committees through an Administrative Order or an Ordinance in the grassroots level will surely build a bigger impact in both the co-op and the community where it operates. Mantinolong kiya say chakel i maolnong.