Former Cebu governor and Deputy House Speaker Pablo Garcia at the local co-op advocacy show “Co-op TV.” (CDN PHOTO/MALOU APALISOK)
SAYING that the Aquino administration gave Philippine cooperatives a “raw deal,” former Deputy House Speaker and Cebu governor Pablo Garcia expects a “better deal” if not “a new deal” for PH cooperatives.
Garcia said this in response to reports that President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is interested in giving cooperatives a space for intervention in mining operations in Mindanao.
Interviewed over “Co-op TV” (Channel 47) last week, Garcia said he was happy to know that President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is “interested” in cooperatives.
“Nindot kaayo ni nga ang co-op taga-an og space for intervention sa mining industry (It’s good that cooperatives will be given a space for intervention),” the former Cebuano congressman said.
Garcia was instrumental in the enactment of two organic laws on PH cooperatives: RA 6938 and RA 9520, otherwise known as the Cooperative Code of 2008.
He is concurrent chairman of Cebu CFI Community Cooperative and Climbs Insurance.
Garcia was elected to the twin posts in both cooperative organizations which his spouse, the late retired judge Esperanza Fiel Garcia used to occupy.
Garcia said cooperatives are “strong” in Mindanao and this could be why the incoming President is looking at self-help enterprises to reform the mining sector.
Asked how cooperatives could leverage itself as a sector in the mining sector Garcia replied, “co-ops have certain privileges.”
“It can import tax free. It can import mining machinery without customs duties. So nindot kaayo ni nga hunahuna sa atong bag-ong president (This is a very good idea of the new President). So that co-ops can move from where they are to big enterprises,” he said.
Garcia said the outgoing administration gave cooperatives a “raw deal” when the Department of Finance tried to strip the sector of its tax-free status, a move initiated by the Department of Finance through Congress.
Garcia said the move did not prosper because the administration feared a backlash in the elections.
He hopes the Duterte administration will give cooperatives “a better deal” than what it got from the Aquino administration.