BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – The Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) has removed its Western Visayas director.
CDA chairman Joseph Encabo confirmed the removal of Regional Director Nora Patron.
The removal, however, won’t derail the ongoing investigation of CDA Region 6 officials and personnel, stressed Encabo.
The ongoing probe was spurred by the financial controversies at the Iloilo City Government Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (ICGMPC).
The CDA is a government agency in charge of the registration and regulation of cooperatives.
Mayor Jerry Treñas, lamenting CDA’s inaction on the ICGMPC’s problems, declared Patron “persona non grata” in September and called for her removal.
A new regional director will assume duties on Jan. 15, 2024 yet. Thus during the interim, the second-highest-ranking official at the CDA will act as the agency’s regional director for Western Visayas, said Encabo.
He declined to name the incoming director.
Regarding the investigation, Encabo said this took some time due to additional findings.
He apologized for the delay, stressing the need for a thorough investigation.
ICGEMPC has been suffering from financial losses attributable to questionable loan transactions which amounted to more than P31 million, and the dissipation of the capital share of its members, said Treñas.
However, these matters have not been acted upon by the CDA, in violation of its mandate to coordinate with the efforts of local government units and the private sector in the development of cooperatives, he said.
Encabo expressed confidence in the independent investigation team’s integrity, stating that they have uncovered new aspects that require serious consideration./PN
