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Senator Bam Aquino met with the leaders of the Coop Chamber to tackle urgent issues facing cooperatives nationwide.

During the dialogue, the Chamber leadership raised critical concerns that threaten the autonomy and operational viability of the sector:

• The Coop Chamber asserts One-Coop, One-Vote in secondary levels: The proposed share-voting system in federations threatens to weaken the democratic voice of cooperatives.
• TIN Requirement: The requirement for all members to secure a TIN poses a heavy compliance burden, risking the exclusion of grassroots members.
• CETF Autonomy: The leaders emphasized that primary cooperatives must retain the right to determine the remittance of the Cooperative Education and Training Fund (CETF), arguing that this should not be a government-mandated imposition.
• CDA Mandate Inquiry: The group called for a legislative inquiry into Republic Act 11364 to review the mandate of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) as a regulator, ensuring it supports rather than stifles sector growth.
• Protection of Training Institutions: On the proposed establishment of the National Center for Cooperative Studies (NCCS), the Chamber insisted on safeguards to ensuring the new Center complements, and does not lead to the decline of existing cooperative institutions.

Senator Bam, joined by his legislative staff, committed to championing cooperatives as instruments of social justice and inclusive economic development. He explicitly promised to review the position paper submitted by the Coop Chamber, stressing that cooperative principles and values should not be sacrificed in the formulation of new policies. The Coop Chamber will likewise furnish the office of Senator Bam Aquino with the co-op movement proposal  to include Co-op Courses as a priority program under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Representing the Coop Chamber were:

Mr. Noel D. Raboy (Chairperson)

Ms. Marlene Sindayen (Vice Chairperson)

Former Rep. Rico Geron (Trustee)

Mr. Edwin Bustillos (Secretary-General)

Mr. Michael Ibañez (RAAO for Mindanao)

Also present from Senator Bam Aquino’s office were:

Mr. PV Aquino

Ms. Maridel Dizon

This dialogue marks a strong step in uniting legislative action with cooperative advocacy, ensuring that cooperatives remain a powerful force for equity, solidarity, and nation-building.