Coop authority extends re-registration deadline

COOPERATIVES, which have not applied for new certifications from the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), are given until September 30 to re-register.

CDA regional director Ray Elevazo, in an earlier interview, said with the implementation of the New Philippine Cooperative Code, all operating cooperatives, which failed to meet the agency's March 22 deadline for re-registration, will no longer be honored as cooperatives.

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CDA-Cordillera information officer Martin Manodon said cooperatives nationwide asked for an extension of re-registration through the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Cooperatives.

With this, the committee ruled cooperatives will be given two more months to comply before being deleted from the official list of cooperatives in the country.

In Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), there were 672 of the 702 operating cooperatives, which were identified to be covered under the New Cooperative Code and need to re-register.

However, Manodon said only 80 percent or 537 complied with the deadline last March 22 and availed of a new registration certificate.

Elevazo added the agency is now waiting for the guidelines from the central office for the cancellation of cooperative certifications.

"The good side here is that those cooperatives without the capacity to operate will be removed from the list of registered cooperatives leaving behind competitive cooperatives, which can expand to areas where poor performing cooperatives used to operate," Elevazo said.

The numbers of re-registered cooperatives in the region are 55 for Abra; 38 for Apayao; 106 for Baguio city; 200 for Benguet; 47 for Ifugao; 50 for Kalinga and 41 for Mountain Province.

"Once the guidelines based on the Philippine Cooperative Code is implemented, government can now focus on improving cooperatives and monitor their operations," Elevazo added.

Before, the giving of re-registration certificates, cooperatives need to amend their Cooperative Articles and By-laws to conform with R.A. 9520.

A cooperative issued with new certification will also have a period of one year within which to amend their articles of cooperation and by-laws to conform with the law.

Aside from the by-law amendments, amount of capitalization, updated treasurer's affidavit reflecting the increase in the amount subscribed and paid-up share capital of members shall be submitted to the agency.

Moreover, Elevazo said in his advisory to cooperatives that when amendments involve the change of names of cooperatives, the CDA will be notified first of the proposed name to avoid duplication of names in the master list of registered cooperatives. (JM Agreda)