Coop Officers Participate in PFCCO-NCR Trainings

The CBMPC officers consisting of some members of the Board of Directors and committees, Secretary and General Manager participated in the virtual CDA mandatory trainings conducted by the Philippine Federation of Credit Cooperatives – National Capital Region (PFCCO-NCR) on February 7-8, 2025 for Fundamentals of Cooperatives and on February 28 – March 1, 2025 for Governance and Management of Cooperatives. There were twelve CBMPC participants in both trainings.

The seminars aim to enhance the knowledge and competencies of cooperative officers, particularly those from micro and small cooperatives which will provide an opportunity for participants to deepen their understanding of cooperative principles, governance, and management. Both trainings are conducted in compliance with CDA Memorandum Circular No. 2015-09 which outlines the Revised Guidelines Implementing the New Training Requirements of Cooperative Officers.

The Fundamentals of Cooperatives was presented by Ms. Cristina Torres-Layug, Volunteer Trainer of PFCCO-NCR, who served as the resource speaker on the 1st day. She discussed the origin, philosophy and concepts of cooperatives. She elaborated on the distinguishing characteristics of cooperatives compared to other organizations and emphasized their vital role in national development.

On the 2nd day, Ms. Leonila Medina of PFCCO- NCR Training Institute, provided an in-depth discussion on the Salient Provisions of Republic Act No. 9520 otherwise known as the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008, along with an overview of the CDA’s powers, functions, and responsibilities. She discussed also the plans, programs and policies of cooperatives particularly in the formulation of Cooperative Vision, Mission and Goals, Strategic Plan, Policies and Programs.

Likewise, Ms. Layug handled the 1st day session of the Governance and Management of Cooperatives. She talked about the principles and practices of good governance in coops, the Board- Manager relationship, cooperative structure, duties and responsibilities of officers and how to manage successful meetings.

On the 2nd day session, Ms. Medina tackled the cooperative operation and management which covers the importance of financial management and human resource, allocation and distribution of Net Surplus to ensure that the coop officers understood proper financial allocation, overview of ethical standards, and performance and measurement, also known as the Balance Scorecard. Relevant laws affecting coops and the overview of social & economic standards for cooperatives were also discussed.

Exercises and workshops done to assess the participants’ understanding of the topics discussed were actively participated in by the CBMPC officers.

The successful implementation of these mandatory trainings underscores commitment to strengthening cooperative leadership and promoting a culture of continuous learning among cooperative officers. The comprehensive sessions equipped participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to enhance the governance and management of their respective cooperatives, ultimately contributing to the growth and sustainability of the cooperative sector.