Unions, Federations Declare Stand on Raquepo, CETF, Unity
Leaders of Unions and Federations have signed and issued separate declarations agreeing to 1) work together, 2) urging President Marcos to retain Alexander Raquepo as Chairperson of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and 3) push for prerogative of primary cooperatives to choose where or to whom to remit their Cooperative Education & Training Fund (CETF).
Marked by frenzied activity within a period of 120 days in the first semester of the year, cooperative union and federation leaders signed three documents signifying unity and solidarity.
At the First National Forum for Federations and Unions in Baguio City on February 21 attended by some 150 leaders from all over Luzon, and at the Second Forum in Quezon City on May 28 participated by some 120 leaders from all over the country, the over-arching topic was working together.
The first and second forums had the same theme: Cooperatives Build a Better World: Uniting Federations and Unions for Sustainable Progress.
The Statement of Solidarity signed by participants at both forums went thus:
“In all cooperative undertakings and endeavors, we collectively pledge our support and commit ourselves to solidly performing our respective roles and responsibilities as the prime leaders of this movement, for the success of all our plans, operations, and activities and for the sustainable development of all our affiliates. Thus, here, we affix our signatures, as testament and manifestation of our steadfast dedication and solemn commitment to the solidarity of all cooperative unions and federations in the Philippines, for the betterment of the cooperative movement, here and abroad.”
At the second Forum, the leaders signed a letter urging the President to “retain” Alexander Raquepo as Chairperson of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)
Earlier, President Marcos had requested his cabinet members to submit their resignations in a move, many analysts saw, to improve his administration’s low public approval ratings as manifested in the dismal performance of his Senatorial candidates in the May 2025 mid-term elections. One of the Cabinet members who submitted his courtesy resignation was CDA Chairperson Alexander Raquepo, whom the President had just appointed to the post in February.
At both Forums, Fr. Anton Pascual, Chairperson of the newly-created National Union of Cooperatives (NUC) fervently stated that the NUC envisions “A Unified Cooperative Sector led by Unions and Federations” with the Mission “To Build a Cooperative Economy Towards Shared Prosperity”.
For years, Fr. Anton initially lobbied for cooperative unions to receive the CETF of primary cooperatives since the unions’ purpose was for education on cooperative principles. Union leaders later compromised on their hardline position. Senate Bill 2811 filed by Senator Imee Marcos in September 2024 mandates cooperatives to remit 70% of their CETf to unions.
However, some co-op leaders have expressed skepticism. In social media, there have been spirited discussions especially since money – in the form of the Cooperative Education Training Fund – is involved.
Former NATCCO Chairperson and a leader of Region 8 COMELEC Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (RECEMPCO), Atty. Adolfo Ibanez posted in his social media: “I have nothing against unions. What I’m against is the apparent bias given to them in activities that can easily be done by federations and coop groups. Do UNIONS have the exclusive skills to do research, lobbying and activities that should only be assigned to them. ? COOPS MUST BE GIVEN FREE CHOICE WHICH COOP GROUP TO AFFILIATE WITH…WHERE TO GET THE MOST APPROPRIATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING THEY NEED.”
Cooperative Development Authority Director and former Manager of Abuyog St. Francis Xavier MPC in Leyte posted as well: “We need to strengthen unions for the much needed research to make our stories credible and we can factually defend our contribution to the country socioeconomically. The unions too will make sure that principles n values the very foundation of our coop identity is mainstreamed in our educational system fir the movement to be adopted by the youth the Government and the community by a louder data driven success stories shared and posted for Global consumption in a robust digital platform we dont have that the unions will develop n maintained.”
In settling the matter, the delegates at the May 28 Forum issued a Declaration of Position on Remittance of CETF to Unions and Federations: “Whereas it is the prerogative of primary cooperatives to decide where and to whom they shall remit their CETF, primary cooperatives are mandated to remit CETF to both a union(s) and federation(s). Moreover, the secondary cooperatives shall also have the discretion on how to use their CETF for the advancement of cooperativism, subject to approval by the General Assembly.”
Amendments to the Cooperative Code will now be coursed through a new Bill to be drafted in the Lower House of Congress and in the Senate.
More discussions are expected.
The Philippine Cooperative Center (PCC) will host the Third National Forum for Federations and Unions in late 2025.
