Registered Cooperatives and Local Government Unit in the Province of Nueva Ecija Philippines: Status, Participation and the Way Forward
Abstract This study described the status of registered cooperatives in Nueva Ecija using descriptive–correlational research and a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. This study found out that majority of the respondent cooperatives are operating for more than 25 years; with more than Million authorized capital; have annual net surplus of P1.2 Million or more; are multi–purpose; and with more than 100 members. The Local Government Units(LGU) are active in teaching the members of the cooperatives to abide rules and guidelines and in supporting the role of cooperatives in the province. However, they should provide aid to cooperatives to efficiently deal with their problems. Additionally, the LGU is informing the cooperatives about their rights and responsibilities. They are not suppressing cooperative members’ opinions and they accept queries coming from the cooperative members. Decision–making responsibilities regarding cooperative matters with the aid of the government were shared by the officers of Cooperatives and LGU. The LGU trust the cooperatives by giving full degree of power of all the benefits that are provided to them by the government. Likewise, cooperatives have no systematic source of authority and influence over the LGU. Despite of the difference in responses of the respondents in non–participation and citizens power, they are similar in tokenism as level of participation. Cooperatives that are new in existence, with low capitalization and with less number of members needed high degree of participation with their members and high degree of partnership and support with the Local Government Units (LGUs). The respondents recognized the help of the LGU in their promotion and in providing trainings but intensified aid and empowerment of the cooperatives are requested by the members and officers to the LGUs. Lastly, the respondent- cooperatives requested that establishment of cooperative office, strengthened tie-up with the LGU, information dissemination on cooperativism, increase aid and funding and partnership with other entities are means to heightened cooperatives participation in development.