But in retrospect, everything’s considered we’re not half way through with our goal!  We still have a long and arduous way ahead of us before we reached our target of 20 million coop members by the year 2013, fully equipped our own personnel with skills and trainings and elicit the greatest form of commitment for CDA and lastly, to give recognition to whom and where it is due.

(By the way, oral exam muna tayo!  Who can give me the complete statement of 1.) Mission, and 2.) Vision of CDA, in 10 seconds!)

As CDA employees, we should at least take it to our heart the very own purpose of being here, in this institution! Otherwise, we cannot contribute in anything positive to our programs and activities! This is a challenge to every one of us.  Because I know, we are here in this present time, present day this very moment in this institution for that purpose! We can, on our own individual capacity, can contribute to the betterment of CDA and the cooperative sector that we regulate.  Let us take advantage of that opportunity to make a difference. So that at the end of the day, we can look in the mirror, at the image before and proudly say, I did my job and I rightfully earned my salary!!!

As you are all aware, before I assumed my post as Chairman, I have heard the definition some discontented customer defined CDA as Cannot Do Anything!  Is that acceptable to you!  It’s like a kick in the stomach!

But we are painstakingly showing them that CDA is Cooperative Development Authority committed to:

Continually enhance the quality of our programs and services, considering the aspirations of our clients in mind;

Deliver prompt services to the public, following a culture of excellence, commitment, integrity and teamwork; and

Act in accordance with law and public policy.

In line with these commitments, CDA will continue to give priority to capacity building to ensure that its human capital is knowledgeable, highly skilled, and creative as well as imbued with positive work ethics and spiritual values. That it will persist with the goal of improving service delivery in the name of transparency, accountability and quality service.

How do we go about it?

1. We must have an Efficient Registration and Effective Regulation

• No package deal on coop registration, zero backlogs on amendments, no piece-meal evaluation of application, one day processing of CGS, availability of pro-forma AOCBL.
  


• A pro-active Legal Department, must do arbitration, and can rule on cases

2. Equity-Oriented Cooperative Promotion and Development

• Conduct meetings with coops to expand membership, conversion of electric coops, tap local gov’t offices to give incentives, encouraged weak coops to merge with the strong ones, coop mapping and encouraged branching.
  
  
• More than anything, now is the time that we utilize to the maximum all our manpower resources, use our peoples skill to attain our objectives.
  
  a. Planning Office must always be in the drawing board! And see to it that all programs are being carried out and producing our desired output. Since we are living in the era of Knowledge Economy and Knowledge Management, we shall implore the MIS/IT unit to be dynamic and responsive to the call of the time. It is a crucial component of our system and processes.
  
  b. CRITD must begin conducting researches and compile! Draw out the talents and expertise of our personnel in each region, set them out! Conduct an actual study, research; make survey as to the real condition of our coop sector. I was challenged by COOP NATCCO to give info on the Status and Challenges of Consumer Coops in the Country! With computerization, it took us quite a while to find relevant data!  Even the records we had at Registration are not that accurate!
  
  c. Registration Unit, it is imperative that we make the necessary updating of our data base.  Contact person and phone numbers are very important information. Why can we not obtain the same info that we need and when need it?
  
  d. CPDAD must act as shakers and movers of our coops! Must make our presence felt by the sector. Business opportunities for coops can be provided and developed.

3. Institutional Development

• c
  e. IDD must have a continuous program for training our front-liners on inspection, assessment, supervision and examination and the coop stakeholders.
  
  f. HR department should prepare Training Needs Analysis, Training Calendar and Conduct Skills Inventory.
  
  g. Supervision and Examination Department needs to be organized now in order to show the relevance of the existence of our Agency. An interim regulatory section shall be organized.

You see, every one of us has his role.  CDA is comparable to one human body. Every department is like our body parts! Once one department failed to do its functions effectively, the whole body will be affected collectively! I am asking everyone for your cooperation.  Let us do our part the best we can. After all, there is only one CDA.

We had lined up our Major Programs and Activities for 2012.  These are:

• Completion of the guidelines and standards for various types of coops
• Implementation of our Communication Advocacy Program
• Development and Implementation of the Social Audit System of the Philippines
• Development and implementation of the Coop Performance Audit
• Conduct and Implementation of activities in connection with the observance of the IYC (International Year of Cooperatives)
• Activation of the National Coordinating Committee on Cooperative Promotion and Development (NCCCPD) in accordance with EO 95 from the national to the regional levels
• Full implementation of MC 2011-02 (Simplified and Rationalized Guidelines in the Operations and Structure of CDCs)
• Crafting and Implementation of a Human Resource Development Program for CDA (Performance Assessment, Awards and Recognition, Training, Career Pathing, et.al)
• One week National Team-Building to be held on March 12 – 17, 2012 in Bohol
• Work for the ISO Certification of CDA Central Office and MEO
• Renovation of Central Office is already set, as well as the construction of three (3) Extension Offices.
• Explore the means for the replacement of transport vehicles for the remaining Regional Office which were not accommodated last 2011
• Forged a MOA with LGU Coop Office and work for the inclusion of cooperative agenda.
• Let’s start planning for 2013 and access for a bigger budget.

My dear CDA employees, again, I would like to make an appeal.  I am not asking you to do more than you are task to do so.  We have our own specific functions to perform, let us all be conscientious enough to do what we are here for.

Let’s put behind us the years before.  What is important is, we are focused, we are committed and we are one to work for the task ahead of us!  Let us give credence to our mission and vision.  Sabi nga natin sa ating cooperative oath, “Alone I am weak, but with others I am strong”! Let’s live our oath by heart.

Now I know that this is the very reason why I am eager to come here! Because I know, today is a new day! Let us welcome year 2012 with hope and expectant heart! Happy New Year! Happy New Me!