CEBU CITY – With the enactment into law of Republic Act No. 9520 or the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) has mandated cooperative groups in the country to enlist.

The new law, which amended RA 6938 or the Cooperative Code of the Philippines, aims to foster the creation and growth of cooperatives as a practical vehicle for promoting self-reliance and harnessing people power in attaining social justice and economic development.

CDA Chairperson Lecira Juarez said there are 7,000 cooperatives in the country and thousands still have applied for new registration under the amended Code.

“We are getting more cooperatives to enlist so that we can have a more empowered cooperative movement in the country,” she said.

Juarez, along with regional heads of the National Cooperative Development Council (NCDC), and 5,000 cooperative leaders, practitioners, and advocates all over Asia, gathered in Cebu last Wednesday for the 1st Asian Cooperative TeamShop.

Juarez said the event is expected to broaden linkages in the 7,000 cooperative groups in the country, whose membership-base has reached seven million, with their Asian counterparts.

“These cooperatives collectively register close to P200 billion in assets,” she said in a press conference.

In his keynote speech at the conference, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said cooperatives play an important role in improving the lives of people and serve as an “effective engine of sustainable growth.”

Said Enrile, “The cooperative movement is an effective engine for sustainable economic growth in the country. Not only does it help improve lives, but they help bridge Government and the people.”

He also advised cooperatives to “reinvent, rethink their plans, expand their horizons, explore other markets, foster strong relationships with other cooperatives in the world, and be aware of economic realities to cope with economic challenges.”

According to Enrile, cooperatives are no different from the business sector, since their growth is also dependent on Government support.

“Cooperative groups must go out of its way to help you by implementing policies for your business to flourish, not doling out funds as subsidies, such that you can operate without being bothered by bureaucrats,” the Senate President told participants.

Enrile also encouraged cooperatives to approach him with their concerns, including taxation.

“Just tell me what you want and what your problems are,” he prodded.