A Proud Beginning to National Cooperative Month 2025

On October 3, 2025, the City of Muntinlupa officially kicked off National Cooperative Month with the first-ever “Usap Tayo? Ugnayan sa Kooperatiba” held at the Museo ng Muntinlupa. The event brought together the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Office of Transportation Cooperatives, and the entire cooperative sector of Muntinlupa.

The cooperative community was honored by the presence of Undersecretary Alexander B. Raquepo, CDA Chairperson; Atty. Leah B. Banagui-Han, Deputy Administrator for Legal Affairs; Ms. Joanne Gamboa, Chief of Inspection and Examination Division; Regional Director Pedro T. Defensor, Jr.; and other CDA division heads.

Usec. Raquepo opened with a humorous remark: “Mangutang kayo!”—a lighthearted call to action that emphasized the role of credit in cooperative growth. He reminded everyone that cooperatives are a way of life, and that true recruitment begins with personal membership and benefit. He stressed that good governance is the foundation of every cooperative’s success or failure.

He encouraged cooperatives to reflect on past leadership, share lessons from failures, and celebrate success stories as models for others. Most importantly, he called for the grooming and development of young cooperative leaders to sustain the movement.

During the plenary session, Usec. Raquepo announced that the CDA is considering extending the Certificate of Compliance validity from one year to three years, while still requiring annual reports. This proposal was met with enthusiastic applause and appreciation.

Regional Director Jun Defensor also reminded attendees that the CDA is always open and ready to assist cooperatives, saying, “The CDA exists because cooperatives exist.”

Resource speakers addressed a wide range of concerns including compliance, governance, financial support, legal issues, and transport cooperative regulations. Many questions were resolved on the spot, much to the delight of participants.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our National Government Agencies for their time and support, and to the Tunasan National High School Chorale for their beautiful performance that uplifted the spirit of the event.

Finally, we thank all the cooperatives of Muntinlupa who attended and actively participated. Your engagement strengthens our shared commitment to advancing