TITLE XV COOPERATIVE, HOUSING AND LAND USE Chapter 1 Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. – It is the declared policy of the Autonomous Regional Government (ARG) to foster the creation and growth of cooperatives as a practical vehicle for promoting self-reliance and harnessing people‟s potential towards the attainment of economic development and social justice. The region shall encourage the private sector to undertake the actual formulation and organization of cooperatives and shall create an atmosphere that is conducive to the growth and development of these cooperatives. Further, the Autonomous Regional Government recognizes the principle of subsidiarity under which the cooperative sector will initiate and regulate within its own ranks the promotion and organization, training and research, audit and support services relating to cooperatives with government assistance where necessary. SEC. 2. Mandate. – The Cooperative Development Authority with all the branches, sub-divisions, instrumentalities and agencies of the Autonomous Regional Government shall ensure the provision of technical guidance, financial assistance and other services to enable the cooperatives to develop into viable and responsive economic enterprises and thereby bring about a strong cooperative movement that shall free the cooperatives from conditions that might infringe their autonomy or organizational integrity. SEC. 3. General Concepts. – A cooperative is a duly registered association of persons, with common bond of interest, who have voluntarily joined together to achieve a lawful common social or economic end, making equitable contributions to the capital required and accepting a fair share of the risks and benefits of the undertaking in accordance with the universally accepted cooperative principles. SEC. 4. Powers and Functions. – The CDA shall have the following powers, functions: (1) (2) Formulate, adopt and implement integrated and comprehensive plans and programs on cooperative development consistent with the existing policy on cooperatives and the overall socio-economic development plans of the autonomous regional government; Develop and conduct management and training programs upon request of cooperatives; (3) Support the voluntary organization and consensual development of activities that promote cooperative movements and provide assistance towards upgrading managerial and technical expertise upon request of the cooperative concerned; (4) Coordinate the efforts of the Local Government Units in the ARMM and the private sector in the promotion, organization and development of cooperatives; 184