Latest consolidated data of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) indicated increasing trend in the compliance and number of registered cooperatives. Out of the submitted financial statements from 534 compliant cooperatives as of December 31, 2018, about 380 or 71% belongs to the millionaire and billionaire cooperatives in terms of total assets with only 154 cooperatives or about 29% that have less than a million total assets.
Out of the forty-four (44) large cooperatives in CAR four (4) are considered as billionaires in terms of assets situated in Baguio City, Kalinga, Abra and Benguet. The distribution of large cooperatives indicated that Baguio City has the highest with 15 large cooperatives composed of 14 primary cooperatives and one federation followed by Benguet with 8 large cooperatives; Ifugao, 7; Mountain Province, 6; Kalinga, 5 and Abra 1 large cooperative respectively. The list excludes the Cooperative Bank of Benguet, Cooperative Bank of Mountain Province and the Northern Luzon Federation of Cooperatives Development Center operating in the region. The total number of large cooperatives constitutes about eight percent (8%) of the compliant cooperatives with submitted financial reports.
Also, seventy-seven (77) are categorized as medium cooperatives and sparsely distributed in CAR. Benguet has the most number with thirty (30) medium cooperatives followed by Baguio City, 12; Ifugao and Kalinga with 10 each; Mountain Province, 9; Abra 4, and Apayao 2 respectively. The total number constitutes about 14% of the total number of compliant cooperatives with financial reports.
Further, about 131 are classified as small cooperatives operating within the region. Benguet has the most number with 49 followed by Baguio, 33; Kalinga, 14; Apayao, 12; Ifugao and Mountain Province, 10 each; and Abra 3. The total number of small cooperatives constitutes about 25% of the total number with reports.
Moreover, two hundred eighty-four (284) cooperatives belong to the micro category. Benguet has the highest at 118 micro coops followed by Baguio, 60; Kalinga, 35; Abra, 27; Mountain Province, 21; Apayao 15 and Ifugao, 8 micro cooperatives respectively.
A closer look at the financial reports of micro cooperatives indicated that only 154 cooperatives did not reach one million total assets. Ifugao registered the lowest number at 1 micro coop followed by Apayao, 9; Mountain Province, 11; Abra, 18; Kalinga, 24; Baguio, 35 and Benguet, 56 micro cooperatives with less than a million total assets.
In a related development, about 68 newly registered cooperatives were included in the Master List as of December 31, 2018. It was noted that of the 68 new cooperatives, the type of newly listed cooperatives include 21 credit; 19 agriculture; 14 transport; 8 consumers; 2 water service; 2 service; 1 marketing and 1 producer type of cooperative.
Finally, we are requesting all cooperatives to submit their reports on time. Cooperatives that failed to secure Certificate of Tax Exemption and those that did not register with BIR need to comply with regulatory requirements. The CDA report forms can be downloaded at cda.gov.ph or proceed to the nearest CDA office in your respective provinces. HAPPY PANGBENGA!