DAR pitches in for Bataan’s cooperative growth

DINALUPIHAN, Bataan -The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Bataan pitches in for the rapid cooperative development in the province.

The only DAR entity in the country accredited by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to facilitate trainings for cooperatives, DAR Bataan is providing for free the 14 required trainings to agrarian reform cooperatives in the province. Agrarian reform cooperatives are those being assisted by DAR, and whose members are mostly agrarian reform beneficiaries.

DAR Bataan Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Engr. Eric San Luis earlier pointed out that the cooperatives need to undergo all the trainings in accordance with Republic Act 9520 or the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008, and in order for them get Certificate of Good Standing. “There are other accredited training providers for cooperatives but they are charging fees unlike us, we are providing such for free”, said San Luis.

Recently, Bataan shone at the Gawad Parangal 2015 for Cooperatives Regional Level held in Pampanga. The province was the runaway winner bringing home major awards that included Best Performing Provincial Coop Council- Bataan Coop Development Council; Best Coop Large Scale Category- Iwahori MPC; Best Coop Medium Scale Category-Watchlife MPC; Best Coop Small Scale Category-Cupang West MPC; and Outstanding Coop Leader-Abucay MPC President Florentino Obana.

San Luis took exception to the achievement of the Bataan Coop Development Council that is chaired by Erickson Reyes, Agrarian Reform Program Officer I at DAR Bataan. He said the Bataan Coop Development Council automatically enters as nominee at the National Level Search of the CDA.