The Board of Directors and Officers of the Philippine Cooperative Center (PCC) paid a courtesy call with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) office on January 16, 2020 where they were graciously welcomed by Secretary Eduardo M. Año.

Repesenting PCC were Chairperson Garibaldi O. Leonardo, CEO Edwin A. Bustillos, Treasurer Marlene D. Sindayen, Legal Counsel Atty. Lyman A, Manzanares, and Operations Officer Geraldine G. Lamson; and Directors Ma. Theresa G. Drueco, Roberto C. Mascariñas, Ponciano D. Payuyo, Yolanda P. Pinzon. Also present in the meeting is the Chairperson of the Cooperative Sector in the Quezon City Cooperative  Development Council and concurrent Vice Chairperson of NOVADECI, Diosdado Tamayo.

The main intention was to introduce PCC to and foster a partnership with DILG regarding cooperative concerns and issues and initiate discussions in relation to the new law, R.A. 11364 – Strengthening and Reorganizing the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), of which the DILG Secretary himself is an ex-officio member.

PCC Chair Leonardo presented PCC’s profile as the unifying and transforming voice of the cooperative movement to the DILG; and presented strategies and programs which includes its participation in different developmental programs and projects of the government like the NAPC (National Anti-Poverty Commission), NCDC (National Cooperative Development Council), its various Coop Summits and its services that include Mediation, R&D, Clustering and Linkaging, Advocacies & Standards Development, and Institution Building. Further, Chair Gary Leonardo mentioned to Secretary Ano that PCC has been the Convener of the largest gathering of cooperatives every two (2) years, the National Cooperative Summit, since 2004.

After the presentation, Sec. Ano emphasized how cooperatives can vigorously help in peace and development, especially among the marginalized sectors like women and indigenous people. He also stressed DILG’s program which includes MC 116-2019 to which PCC CEO Bustillos added how the partnership can be carried out.

It was also agreed by both parties that DILG will enhance its role of ensuring that each LGU create an office and hire/appoint/designate a cooperative development officer (CDO) particularly in chartered cities which will advocate and instill capacity-building and livelihood programs that will help DILG in particular and the LGUs themselves.

For its part, the DILG will look into the data on those with CDOs which are functioning and those without, for which there was a recommendation to come out with a memorandum to support the cooperative sector in designating a CDO.  Directors Mascariñas and Payuyo fortified the idea that the CDO will work wonders to those LGUs, which, in turn prompted Secretary Ano to instruct his director at the Bureau of Local Development to map out a program supporting the recommendation of PCC.

Local regulations not aligned with the program of the President regarding the ease in doing business, PCC Treasurer Marlene Sindayen and Director Tess Drueco took turns in emphasizing how DILG can help advise the LGUs on the issue. PCC was delighted to hear from DILG that perhaps there is a need to draft an advisory on the Ease of Doing Business, whereas if the establishment is not involved in food or the hospitality services sector, these requirements may not be a prerequisite in processing the business permit of cooperatives.

Finally, the coop representatives requested Secretary Ano’s full support in the implementation of RA 11364, to which the former responded positively; Sec. Ano also reassured to keep the lines of constant communication open, through Director Anna Bonaguato coordinating with PCC. The DILG Secretary was also invited to give support to and grace the forthcoming 15^th National Cooperative Summit in Iloilo this October by being a guest of honor.