Parli course aimed at coop officers

CEBU, Philippines - Officers of cooperatives across the province are required to attend a seminar on parliamentary procedure or face expulsion from his/her post.

Cebu City Cooperative Development Council (CCCDC) Director Elias Baquero said an official may also be prevented from running in the next elections if he/she fails to attend at least seven seminars.

The upcoming seminar is slated on May 4 and 5 at the Cebu City Social Hall. The seminar, conducted in coordination with the Council of Leaders in Cebu City Cooperatives Inc. (CCCI), is one of the mandated training courses required by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

CCCDC Chairperson Ma. Nida Cabrera and CDA-7 Director Felipe G. Deri said the seminar will be facilitated by an accredited trainer from the Visayas Cooperative Training Office (VICTO).

Article 44 of Republic Act (RA) 9520 and Rule 7, Section 5 of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), provides that “Officers of the Cooperative shall be required to undergo necessary training conducted by cooperatives, federations and/or other trainers or training institutions duly accredited by the Authority,” said CCCDC director Napoleon Sentillas.

Parliamentary procedure is one of the identified priority training courses to be completed by all officers this year, pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. 2011-27.

The two-day seminar will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will cover knowledge, skills and attitudes required in effectively conducting business meetings in an orderly manner.

While VICTO National and the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO) are charging at least P3,500 per cooperative officer per seminar, the CCCDC is only charging P1,700 per participant, Baquero said.

Cooperatives may pay in advance through Opel Cordova at the office of Cebu City Councilor Eduardo Rama. All checks are payable to the Council of Leaders of the Cebu City Cooperatives Inc., he added.

The certificate that will be issued to the participant who can complete the seminar will be valid for five years.  (FREEMAN)