THE City Government of Tagbilaran, through the City Livelihood and Community Development Unit, successfully held a Cooperative Union Planning Workshop on June 4–5, 2025 at JJ’s Seafoods Village, bringing together leaders from 16 primary cooperatives in the city to begin formal preparations for establishing the first-ever Cooperative Union in both Tagbilaran City and the Province of Bohol.
The activity was facilitated by Dr. Rosalinda Paredes, a development resource speaker who guided participants through the process of crafting a Cooperative Union Development Plan which is a key requirement for registering with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
The event was also graced by representatives from the Cooperative Development Authority and the Provincial Cooperative Office, who served as resource persons.
According to CDA Memorandum Circular No. 2022-04, Series of 2022, cooperatives are mandated to become members of higher-tier cooperative institutions such as unions, federations, insurance cooperatives, or cooperative banks.
In response, the workshop served as a proactive step toward compliance and long-term cooperative empowerment at the local level.
At the end of the activity, the participating cooperatives were able to formulate the vision and mission statements of the union as well as draft the union’s articles of cooperation and by-laws. All of these are requisites for the registration.
In a statement, Mayor Jane Yap emphasized the importance of strengthening grassroots cooperatives through collaboration and structured support systems.
“The unity of our cooperatives is a major step toward a stronger local economy. With the support of our city government, we are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind, and that all cooperatives—big or small—receive the necessary assistance and knowledge to thrive,” she said.
The cooperatives are now planning to proceed with the registration around August this year.
Once registered with the CDA, the Cooperative Union in formation will be the first of its kind in Tagbilaran City and the entire province of Bohol.
It aims to provide mandatory training, shared services, and policy advocacy for member cooperatives, reinforcing the city’s goal of inclusive and community-based economic development.
The workshop stands as a milestone in the local cooperative movement, demonstrating the City Government’s commitment to enabling sustainable, pro-people economic structures rooted in collaboration.
