By: Salvador Isorena/Green Alert
A plethora of momentous, in fact, historic events occurred recently in the “Land of the Howling Winds.” Said events are gradually transforming the province into a “Happy and Joyful Island Province.”
One of these events was the visit for the first time in our province of Natcco Rep. Felimon ‘Emon’ Espares and his staff who briefed participants in a forum held at the Pinoy Lingap Damayan Cooperative (PLDC) Building in Sipi, Bato, on the partylist group’s current initiatives in the Con its two decades and six years (26) of existence as a partylist organization, Natcco got two seats in Congress. In the 19th Congress, however, only one seat was allocated based on the number votes obtained during the May 11, 2022 national and local elections.
According to Coop-Natcco National Directorate Atty. Bienvenido Larosa, Natcco obtained only 311 votes despite the presence of many cooperatives in the province. He admitted that the partylist is partly to blame for the poor showing as it has not actively connected with cooperatives in the province since 1998. Two major reasons for this very low votes-turnout are: (1) strong challenge and competition waged by the Ako Bicol Partylist (regional) and TGP PartyList (national) led by Rep.Jose J.Teves,Jr., a true-bloodied Catandunganon who hails from Baras, Catanduanes, and (2) Natcco leadersip’s shortcomings of not connecting with the coops here since 1998.
Rep. Felimon ‘Emon’ Espares and his staff briefed participants on the partylist group’s current initiatives in the House of Representatives in the House of Representatives, particularly its leading role in the bid to craft a revised Cooperative Code. It is noteworthy to note that while the group has maintained at least one seat in Congress since 1998, it saw its two seats during the 2007-2019 period reduced to just one. In the 2022 elections, it gained only 346,341 votes or less than 1 percent , compared to its heyday in 2010 when it garnered nearly a million votes.
The three-day event was highlighted by the oath-taking of the following officers, namely: President—Crispin Lopez (PROVEMCO), Vice President –Anita Tasarra (PLDC), Secretary—Judith Villareal (CACCI), Treasurer—Emma Grienzo (DAREMPCO), Auditor—Engr. Romeo Belaro Jr., (DPWH Provincial Coordinator—Rosemarie Yutan.
Prominent guests who graced the event were Governor Joseph C. Cua, Mr. Elpidio R. Tuburo, CSHCI, Vocational School Administrator and Mr. Kim Zuniega , DOLE representative. In his message, Governor Cua cited the “invaluable role cooperatives play in fabric of the local economy but stressed that it cannot survive without adequate support. He also disclosed that the newly-created position of Provincial Cooperative Development officer (PCDO), now held by former CDA staffer June Ophar Dy, will streamline all help that the provincial government can give to ensure support for Catanduanes cooperatives.
The provincial chief executive said the province recently secured two projects from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) covering the establishment of coconut and abaca processing plants in Gimoto and Caramoran towns. Henceforth, there will be no more need to make copra as the plant will do the job of turning coconut meat into oil while the coconut water of mature nuts will also be packaged, Cua added.
He also added that “with the awarding of the project next month in July the projects could be operational before the end of this year. The provincial government could grant capitalization to cooperatives to deliver nuts to Biong in Gigmoto as transporting copra to Quezon would be a thing of the fast. He likewise urged cooperative leaders in Catanduanes to continue their support for the Coop-Natcco partylist.
In his message, Rep. Espares expressed confidence that House Bill 9673 providing for a new Cooperative Code will be eventually approved by the Senate and signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
Significantly, among the changes that can be expected in a new or amended Cooperative Code are the a) removal of the fifty-year limit on operations of cooperatives, b) an increase in the tax threshold for reserves, that coops may use their reserves in investments subject to approval by the general assembly, c) donation of community development fund to areas where the co-op does not operate (subject to approval by the general assembly), d) a prescribed allotment of 5% to 10% of net surplus for Cooperative Education and Training Fund (CETF),e) mandatory membership of all coops to a federation and union, f) unions will be allowed to engage in business and charge fees, g) CDA has 15 days to decide on coop applications and that upon registration, a coop is mandated to have a manager and bookkeeper. To be featured in this column will be CatSU’s Presidential Night Awarding; Launching & Unveiling of the College of Law ; & Liturgical Reception (June 25, 2024) & Solemn Installation and Canonical Possession of His Excellency, The most Reverend Luisito A. Occiano, D.D., Third Bishop of Virac, (June 25, 2024).
