In line with the continued efforts to enhance regulatory compliance among cooperatives, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) successfully conducted the Cooperative Assessment Information System (CAIS) Orientation on March 17–18, 2026, in Surigao del Sur, with a particular focus on cooperatives in District I.

The activity gathered officers, management staff, and representatives from various cooperatives to familiarize them with the CAIS platform—an essential digital system designed to streamline the submission, monitoring, and evaluation of mandatory reports. The orientation provided participants with a comprehensive walkthrough of the system’s features, processes, and requirements, ensuring that cooperatives are well-equipped to comply with regulatory standards.

The primary objective of the activity is to achieve a 100% rate of issuance of Certificates of Compliance (CoC) among cooperatives in the province. The Certificate of Compliance is a vital document issued by the CDA, signifying that a cooperative has satisfactorily complied with all reportorial and regulatory requirements for a given fiscal year.

The successful conduct of the activity was made possible through the invaluable support and assistance of the Province of Surigao del Sur, spearheaded by Governor Johnny T. Pimentel, through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist - Provincial Cooperative Development Officer-Designate, Mr. James Stevenson G. Morilla, whose coordination and commitment significantly contributed to the smooth implementation of the orientation.

In addition, the activity benefited from the strong support of the City Local Government Unit of Tandag City, under the leadership of Hon. Roxanne C. Pimentel, through the City Cooperative Development Office of Mrs. Lorna L. Novo, and her team played a crucial role in ensuring the participation and engagement of cooperatives, ultimately contributing to the overall success of the activity.

During the orientation, CDA personnel, through Mrs. Fevic Lazarte, CPA, Sr. Cooperative Development Specialist under the Supervision and Examination Section, emphasized the importance of timely and accurate submission of reports through the CAIS platform. Participants were guided on how to properly encode data, upload necessary documents, and track the status of their submissions. Common issues and concerns encountered in previous reporting periods were also addressed, providing practical solutions to ensure smoother compliance moving forward.

Moreover, the activity served as a venue for strengthening collaboration between CDA and cooperatives, reinforcing the shared commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance within the cooperative sector.

With the successful conduct of the CAIS Orientation, cooperatives in District I, Surigao del Sur, are now better positioned to meet compliance requirements efficiently. The CDA remains optimistic that through continuous capacity-building initiatives such as this, the goal of full compliance—and ultimately, the sustainable growth and development of cooperatives in the region—will be achieved.