The DMMMSU Open University System (DOUS) recently conducted a three-day Training of Trainers for prospective applicants and accredited cooperative training providers at the DOUS Digital Classroom.

This initiative, part of the DOUS Continuing Professional Education program headed by Dr. Romeo C. Opeña Jr., aimed at enhancing the capacity of cooperatives across the country to comply with the Cooperative Development Authority’s (CDA) Circular No. 2022-11, series of 2022, which outlines the New Guidelines on the Accreditation and Monitoring of Cooperative Training Providers.

The training covered crucial topics such as “Cooperatives as Tools for Development,” “Training on Cooperative Development,” and “Cooperative Training Skills and Techniques.” These sessions were designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute effectively to the cooperative movement and promote sustainable development through cooperative practices.

Dr. Josefina L. Bitonio, former Regional Director of Cooperative Development Authority, and Dr. Allen J. Ngilangil, Executive Director of Cordillera Administrative Region Cooperative Union, served as learning service providers for the event.

The event’s high attendance from various government agencies underscores the collaborative efforts to strengthen the cooperative sector in the Philippines. This collective commitment, along with DOUS’s unwavering support for the continuous professional development of cooperative trainers, ensures that cooperative training in the Philippines remains relevant, effective, and aligned with current regulatory standards. (By Claudia Denise Barbadillo)