Regional Coop Summit resolutions bared

ALABEL, Sarangani (October 16, 2007) - South Central Mindanao cooperatives open their 7th summit Thursday (October 18) with the theme, "Developing Opportunities for Cooperatives in SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos) and JAGS-CT (Jose Abad Santos-Glan-Sarangani Cooperation Triangle)."

The cooperatives, in a profile, have prepared seven resolutions for presentation to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

These are:

1) To issue an executive order mandating all local government units to support the cooperative councils and create a cooperative development office with regular plantilla and providing funds thereof.

2) To fund the National Cooperative Development Councils (NCDCs)and Regional Cooperative Development Councils (RCDCs) thru the CDA to fast-track the mandate as provided for in EO 95 dated June 8, 1993.

3) To certify as urgent bill the proposed amendment of CDA charter particularly on the provision granting quasi-judicial functions and more funds allocated to CDA for additional manpower for effective monitoring and supervision of cooperatives.

4) To review and issue an executive order lifting/recalling or nullifying the EO No. 623 and instead directing the NEA to amend the self-serving guidelines on conversion which manipulatively and unreasonably rendered it difficult or impossible for the members to push through with its plan on conversion of electric cooperatives from non-stock cooperative under NEA (PD269) to a genuine cooperative under the CDA (RA6938 and 6939)

5) To provide funds for the realization of the regional cooperative training center.

6) To issue an order supporting the COOP-OTOP and directing the line government agencies such as the LGUs, DTI, DA, NFA, DOLE, TLRC, TESDA, LBP, DBP, QUEDANCOR and others to provide technical and financial assistance to viable projects identified by the coop sector.

7) To issue an order encouraging the MERGER and CONSOLIDATION of various coop sector in order to achieve a strong, viable and globally competitive cooperative agency. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)