Since 2005 the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Regional Office has transfered in the new seat of government for Western Mindanao from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City.

This was confirmed by its Regional Legal Officer Atty. Margie Lumasag after the Cooperative Advocates Day at the Amusement and Events Center not as an offshoot of the Executive Order 429 by then President Corazon Aquino transferring the seat of government for Region 9 to Pagadian City, but as they (the CDA) see it that the province of Zamboanga del Sur had been active in promoting cooperativism as an alternative way of life.

{sidebar id=8}“CDA had been here since 2005, not because of what ordered us to transfer but we have foreseen that Pagadian City and the whole province is not only promoting cooperativism but, it is the cradle cooperatives.” She said.

With the Aurora Integrated Development Cooperative as an example where the said cooperative had gone a long way in the cooperative movement and a lot of people learn the way it is to be, CDA has transferred in Pagadian since then.

“In our assessment, most of the top cooperatives came from this province and 50 percent of registered cooperatives are also from Pagadian City and Zamboanga del Sur, and this are the reason why we stayed., she adds.

The transfer issue had been met by controversies, and  for the last 16 years it did not materialize, however with the Office of the Presidential Adviser for New Regional Centers (OPANGC) now in charge, Pagadian accepts the calibrated transfer scheme of the one hundred twenty one offices, the seat of government for Region 9 will definitely be in Pagadian City.

“Our commitment to serve the people of Pagadian City and Zamboanga del Sur we will not go back to Zamboanga as what other offices had done, The CDA will not follow them because we believe that the bulk of our jobs is here in this part of Western Mindanao.”

Atty Lumasag was the guest speaker during the Cooperative Advocates Day as a part of the celebration of the 55^th Founding Anniversary of Zamboanga del Sur and the 2007 WOW Biyahe Na Regional Tourism showcase.{sidebar id=9}

Last update : 14-12-2007 11:51

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