Philippines Reorganization Strengthening Tender

The House of Representatives approved on second reading House Bill 9051 which seeks to reorganize and strengthen the Cooperative Development Authority CDA to make it a more proactive partner of the cooperative sector in improving the quality of life of the people. Under the bill principally authored by Reps. Sabiniano Canama Party-list COOP NATCCO and Rozzano Rufino Biazon Lone District Muntinlupa City the CDA created under Republic Act 6939 shall be reorganized and strengthened to carry out the provisions of the Act and those of RA 99520 otherwise known as the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008. For this purpose RA 6939 shall be repealed.Canama said it is the desire of the cooperative sector to see the CDA adequately empowered to enable it to perform its regulatory powers and to propel cooperatives to become more competitive and competent in pursuit of sustainable operations and delivery of quality services. Biazon said the failure of the cooperative movement to take off and deliver on its potential as a vehicle for poverty alleviation and for promoting the participation of the poor in economic activity is partly attributed to inadequate supervision and regulation of the CDA. Clearly there is a need to amend the charter of the CDA to make it a proactive partner of the cooperative sector in improving the quality of life of our people Biazon said.Under the bill the CDA shall be attached to the Department of Trade and Industry DTI for policy and program coordination. Among the powers functions and responsibilities of the CDA shall be to 1 develop and formulate appropriate regulations standards rules orders guidelines andor circulars to implement the Act and the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008 2 formulate adopt and implement integrated and comprehensive plans and programs on cooperative development consistent with the national policy on cooperatives and establish an integrated framework on cooperative development for all government agencies 3 register all cooperatives including amendments to their Articles of Cooperation and By-laws and in cases of divisions mergers and consolidations 4 exercise supervision and jurisdiction over all types and categories of cooperatives registered with the CDA 5 develop and conduct management and training programs that will provide members of cooperatives with the entrepreneurial capabilities managerial expertise and technical skills required for efficient operation of their cooperatives 6 order the suspension and cancellation of the Certificate of Registration of cooperatives andor the revocation of the Letter of Authority andor Certificate of Authority to establish and operate satellite or branch offices respectively 7 order the dissolution and liquidation of cooperatives as well as the transfer of all or substantially all of their assets and liabilities 8 hear and decide inter-cooperative and intra-cooperative disputes controversies andor conflicts without prejudices to the filing of civil and criminal cases by the parties concerned before the regular courts and 9 issue cease and desist orders to cooperatives and responsible parties specified under Article 137 of RA 9520 and such other orders and notices to preserve the assets and documents of the cooperatives subject of the dispute or litigation.The CDA shall also issue subpoenas and summons for the parties to appear and produce documents in any proceedings of the CDA and in appropriate cases represent the CDA as a voting member in the governing board of the Land Bank of the Philippines LBP and the Development Bank of the Philippines DBP to advance cooperative development represent the CDA in the sectoral and Regional Development Council RDC as a regular voting member thereof and establish and maintain a continuing educational and capability-building program for the CDA.The CDA shall have a Board of Directors which shall be the collegial policy-making body of the CDA. It shall be composed of the Chairperson with the rank and privilege of an Undersecretary and six members of the Board with the rank and privilege of an Assistant Secretary all of whom shall be chosen among the nominees from the cooperative sector. The Board shall be responsible for policy formulation strategic planning and direction setting of the agency.Meanwhile the CDA Administrator shall be the Executive Director and shall be assisted by a Deputy Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. The Executive Director shall execute and administer the policies decisions orders and resolutions approved by the Board and shall have the general executive decision and supervision of work and operation of the Authority. The CDA shall furnish the Bureau of Internal Revenue BIR and local government units LGUs which include provincial highly urbanized and independent cities and other concerned agencies a certified list of duly registered cooperatives for purposes of tax exemptions.Other authors of the bill are Reps. Anthony Bravo Maximo Rodriguez Jr. Maria Valentina Plaza Evelyn Mellana Manuel Zubiri Deputy Speaker Prospero Pichay Jr. Reps. Estrellita Suansing Dennis Laogan Rene Relampagos Dakila Carlo Cua Rico Geron Teodoro Montoro Joseph Stephen Paduano Milagros Magsaysay Orestes Salon and Rolando Andaya Jr.