ART 1 - 4

• ART. 1. TITLE

  This act shall be known as the “Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008”.
• ART. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY

  It is the declared policy of the State to foster the creation and growth of cooperatives as a practical vehicle for promoting self-reliance and harnessing people power towards the attainment of economic development and social justice.
• ART. 3. GENERAL CONCEPTS

  A cooperative is an autonomous and duly registered association of persons, with a common bond of interest, who have voluntarily joined together to achieve their social, economic, and cultural needs and aspirations by making equitable contributions to the capital required, patronizing their products and services and accepting a fair share of the risks and benefits of the undertaking in accordance with universally accepted cooperative principles.
• ART. 4. COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES
• Voluntary and Open Membership – Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, cultural, political or religious discrimination.
• Democrative Member Control – Cooperatives are democratic organizations that are controlled by their members who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.
• Member Economic Participation – Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperatives.
• Autonomy and Independence – Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members
• Education, Training and Information – Cooperatives shall provide education and training for their members, elected and appointed representatives, managers, and employees, so that they can contribute effectively and efficiently to the development of their cooperatives.
• Cooperation Among Cooperatives – Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
• Concern for Community – Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.