{"id":3720,"date":"2026-05-25T05:40:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T05:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/?p=3720"},"modified":"2026-05-25T05:40:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T05:40:23","slug":"committee-on-cooperative-development-hearing-on-an-act-ensuring-the-development-promotion-and-protection-of-agriculture-related-cooperatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/?p=3720","title":{"rendered":"Committee on Cooperative Development Hearing on An Act Ensuring the Development, Promotion, and Protection of Agriculture-Related Cooperatives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Committee on Cooperatives Development\u00a0<br>House of Representatives<br><\/strong>Room 7-8 RVM Building (May 18, 2026)<br>Nograles Room (May 20, 2026)<br><br>The Technical Working Group discussed the proposed measures related to the development of the agricultural cooperative. The sub-committee Chairperson, Representative Janice Degamo of Negros Oriental, facilitated the discussion. Representatives from the Coop Chamber, Agri-cooPH, Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives, and other cooperatives, along with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Cooperative Development Authority were present during the discussion of the 7 measures enumerated as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>HB 1023 | Introduced by Hon. Rep. Robert Nazal (BH Party-List) \u2013 An Act to Promote the Development of Agriculture Cooperatives in the Philippines, Providing Support to Farmers and their Associations, and for Other Purposes.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>HB 2417 | Introduced by Hon. Rep. Felimon Espares (Coop NATCCO Party-List) \u2013 An Act Ensuring the Development, Promotion, and Protection of Agricultural Cooperatives.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>HB 3249 | Introduced by Hon. Rep.Manuel O. Ko (Abang Lingkod PartyList) An Act Establishing Bureau of Agricultural Cooperative Development (BACD) as an Attached Agency under the Department of Agriculture, Defining its Powers and Functions, Including the Development and Support of Agriculture Cooperatives and Agrarian Reform Cooperatives, and for Other Purposes.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>HB 3466 | Introduced by Hon. Rep. Jan Rurik D. Padiernos, GP (Galing sa Puso Party-List) &#8211; An Act Establishing the Bureau of Agricultural Cooperative and Industry Development (BACID), Defining its Powers and Functions, and Appropriate Funds\u00a0Therefor.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>HB 5130 l Introduced by Hon. Rep. Leila M. De Lima (Mamamayang Liberal Party-List) &#8211; An Act Ensuring the Development, Promotion, and\u00a0Protection of Agricultural Cooperatives, Providing for the Creation of Bureau of Agricultural Cooperatives, and For Other Purposes. HB 5295 l Introduced by Hon. Rep. Antonino B. Roman III- An Act to Promote the Development of Agriculture Cooperatives in the Philippines, Providing Support to Farmers and their Associations, and for Other Purposes\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>HB 5315 l Introduced by Hon. Rep. Howard Guintu (Representative, First District of Capiz)- An Act to Promote the Development of Agriculture Cooperatives in the Philippines, Providing Support to Farmers and their Associations, and for Other Purposes\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Representative Felimon Espares, Chairperson of the Committee on Cooperatives, also participated in the TWG meeting, as well as Atty. Ma. Victoria Bayang, the Committee Secretary, efficiently assisted Representative Degamo and Representative Espares during the interaction of the different resource speakers.<br><br>Other members of the House of Representatives from the Committee on Cooperatives Development and the Committee on Agriculture and Food attended the 2nd day of the TWG meeting. Among them were Cong. Nicanor Briones of AGAP Party List, Cong Enverga, Cong Co, Cong Elago, Panilagan, Cong Dimacuha, Cong Bonilla, and Cong Antolin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Coop Chamber welcomes the proposed measures filed by our highly esteemed legislators regarding the promotion and development of agricultural cooperatives, as enumerated above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, the Coop Chamber submits the following clarifications on the proposed texts of the provisions enumerated herein, as instructed by the committee for your review and consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Section 16. Governance of a Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives <\/strong>&#8211; The member-primary cooperatives shall comprise the general assembly of a Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives. The voting system\u2014one member, one vote\u2014applies regardless of the member-primaries&#8217; share capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>The votes cast by the delegates shall be deemed as votes cast by the members thereof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The foregoing notwithstanding, the By-laws of a cooperative may provide for voting by proxy. Voting by proxy means allowing a delegate of a cooperative to represent or vote on behalf of another delegate of the same cooperative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>Section 35. Composition of the Council <\/strong>&#8211; The Council shall be composed of the following members, or their duly authorized&nbsp;representatives :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">a.&nbsp;Secretary of Agriculture, as Chairperson;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">b.&nbsp;Chairperson of the CDA, Vice-Chairperson;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">c.&nbsp;Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">d.&nbsp;Undersecretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">e.&nbsp;Undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">f.&nbsp;Undersecretary of the Department of Education;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">g.&nbsp;Undersecretary of the Department of Science and Technology;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">h.&nbsp;Director-General of the National Economic Development Authority;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">i.&nbsp;Director-General of the TESDA;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">j.&nbsp;Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">k.&nbsp;Commissioner of the CHED;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">l.&nbsp;Representative from the Philippine Statistics Authority;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">m.&nbsp;One (1) Representative each from Cooperative Climate Resiliency Fund private donor entities;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">n.&nbsp;Representative from the&nbsp;Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives&nbsp;and<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">o.&nbsp;Two (2) representatives each, from the primary agricultural cooperatives sector&nbsp;for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">p.&nbsp;REPRESENTATIVE FROM INSURANCE COOPERATIVE WITH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR FARMERS, AND<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">q.&nbsp;ONE (1) REPRESENTATIVE EACH FROM NAPC FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK, COOPERATIVES, YOUTH, AND WOMEN COUNCILS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The representative from the insurance cooperative must have an insurance program for farmers and have long partnered with direct engagement with the insurance commission and the Philippine crop insurance. The determination of the representative of the federation of agricultural representatives shall be made by and among the federations of agricultural cooperatives, whose nominee shall either be the current general manager or a member of the board of directors of the said cooperative, and shall determine the process of selection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moreover, the process of determining the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao representatives from the primary agricultural representatives shall also be determined by the cooperatives in their respective islands through a process of nominations and selections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final list of the official representatives from the federation of agricultural cooperatives and the six representatives from the three islands shall be submitted to the department of agriculture for endorsement to the office of the president of the republic of the Philippines for their formal appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The NAPC representatives are the sectoral representatives appointed by the president&nbsp;of the republic of the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CHAPTER IV. OTHER PROVISIONS.<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cooperatives acquiring private agricultural lands by modes of acquisition to be used for actual, direct and exclusive public purposes, such as large scale farming, shall also not be subject to the five (5)-hectare retention limit under this Section and Sections 70 and 73(a) of Republic Act No. 6657, as amended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Coverage<\/em><\/strong><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">XXX.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Provincial, city and municipal government units acquiring private agricultural lands by expropriation or other modes of acquisition to be used for actual, direct and exclusive public purposes, such as roads and bridges, public markets, school sites, resettlement sites, local government facilities, public parks and barangay plazas or squares, consistent with the approved local comprehensive land use plan, shall not be subject to the five (5)-hectare retention limit under this Section and Sections 70 and 73(a) of Republic Act No. 6657, as amended:&nbsp;<strong>MOREOVER, COOPERATIVES ACQUIRING PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LANDS BY MODES OF ACQUISITION TO BE USED FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT AND EXCLUSIVE PUBLIC PURPOSES, SUCH AS LARGE SCALE FARMING, SHALL ALSO NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE FIVE (5)-HECTARE RETENTION LIMIT UNDER THIS SECTION AND SECTIONS 70 AND 73(A) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6657, AS AMENDED.<\/strong>&nbsp;Within six (6) months from the&nbsp;effectivity&nbsp;of this Act, the DAR shall submit a comprehensive study on the land size appropriate for each type of crop to Congress for a possible review of limits of land sizes, including those provided in this Act.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This provision aims to encourage cooperatives to engage in large-scale agriculture without the constraints typically placed on land retention and is designed to facilitate a more effective approach to land use for public benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Coop Chamber, together with its members, including primary agricultural cooperatives and federations of agricultural cooperatives, supports the passage of this measure to further advance the development of agricultural cooperatives in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposed bills are very important, especially since the agriculture sector needs a boost\u2014not only in terms of policy enhancement, but more importantly through the participation and collaboration of all stakeholders. This is essential in addressing the dire situation of our farmers, fishers, and other key actors in the sector. What is needed is a clear agricultural roadmap that will once again position the Philippines as one of the top producers of rice and high-value crops, ensuring domestic food security while also enabling the country to compete in global markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;It may be recalled that President Ferdinand \u201cBongbong\u201d Marcos Jr. highlighted the crucial role of cooperatives in strengthening the production and market power of the agriculture sector. Hence, he emphasized the need to amend the provisions of Republic Act 9520 or the Cooperative Code of the Philippines during his Second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 24, 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another meeting will be called to finalize these bills and hopefully to come up with a Committee Report, together with the substitute bill that will be eventually discussed&nbsp;in the plenary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Committee on Cooperatives Development\u00a0House of RepresentativesRoom 7-8 RVM Building (May 18, 2026)Nograles Room (May 20, 2026) The Technical Working Group discussed the proposed measures related to the development of the agricultural cooperative. The sub-committee Chairperson, Representative Janice Degamo of Negros Oriental, facilitated the discussion. Representatives from the Coop Chamber, Agri-cooPH, Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"PhChamberCoop","author_link":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/?author=1"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/?cat=1\" rel=\"category\">Uncategorized<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Committee on Cooperatives Development\u00a0House of RepresentativesRoom 7-8 RVM Building (May 18, 2026)Nograles Room (May 20, 2026) The Technical Working Group discussed the proposed measures related to the development of the agricultural cooperative. The sub-committee Chairperson, Representative Janice Degamo of Negros Oriental, facilitated the discussion. Representatives from the Coop Chamber, Agri-cooPH, Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives,&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3720"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3720\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3720\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}