Guam hearing on Resolution 83-38 urges education, agency action to implement cooperative law

A public hearing of the Guam Legislature on Oct. 30, 2025 drew community leaders, farmers and small-business owners to urge action on Legislative Resolution 83-38, which recognizes the United Nations' designation of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives and calls for coordinated implementation of Guam's Limited Cooperative Association law. The hearing, sponsored by Senator Sabrina Flores Perez and multiple cosponsors, ended with the chair saying the resolution had been "duly heard"; no final vote was recorded.

Advocates told senators the legal framework is now on the books but that implementation is incomplete. "The law exists, and now we need implementation," said Michelle Crisostomo, president of Guahan Sustainable Culture and a commercial farmer, who urged three specific actions in the resolution: workforce education and training, an outreach campaign through the University of Guam and the Guam Economic Development Authority, and Department of Revenue and Taxation (DRT) administrative support including updated forms and staff training. Crisostomo noted that Guam imports about 90% of its food and that cooperatives could help farmers aggregate supply and access federal programs such as USDA grants.

Jordan Panuelo of the Micronesia Climate Change Alliance framed cooperatives as a tool to meet multiple U.N. sustainable development goals and to "build a better world." "I believe in the power of people coming together," Panuelo said, urging the body to pass the resolution to spur public awareness and local cooperative activity.

Teod Meresbang, CEO and co-founder of Pacific Nesian Equities, urged the creation of cooperative development centers and a cooperative division within GEDA (Guam Economic Development Authority). Meresbang cited cooperative benefits including high retention, crisis resilience and lower waste and suggested tax incentives and seller-financing pathways to enable employee and tenant buyouts of businesses and housing as one method to preserve jobs and community ownership during owner retirements.

Speakers described models and partners available to Guam. Testimony cited international examples such as Sri Lanka's National Institute for Cooperative Development and Spain's Mondragon cooperatives as templates for training, technical assistance and community-focused economic development. Witnesses said they have access to templates and networks (including the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, Northwest Cooperative Development Center and the Georgia Employee Ownership Center) to assist local formation and bylaws drafting.

University of Guam Sea Grant and the UOG Center for Island Sustainability submitted written testimony supporting the resolution and highlighted Guam Green Growth (G3) as an existing public-private partnership that aligns with cooperative goals; UOG Sea Grant noted workforce programs that could support cooperative business models. In contrast, a statement read for GEDA by administrator Christina Garcia said GEDA is "diligently working to diversify Guam's economy" and that fostering cooperatives has not been a central initiative to date; GEDA said it will "determine how Public Law 37-147 and the goals of this resolution can augment our ongoing initiatives" and that further discussion is needed about professional and financial resources to play a role.

Multiple witnesses emphasized technical barriers to implementation: DRT needs to post correct cooperative filing forms and train staff so cooperatives can be registered and obtain business licenses; resource centers need funding to provide cooperative incubation and grant-writing assistance; and workforce and higher-education programs at UOG could add cooperative curricula. "Without education, outreach, and administrative support, it would be very difficult for cooperatives to succeed," Crisostomo said.

Community members and small-business owners described how cooperative structures could keep more economic value on-island, reduce waste, and support culturally rooted values such as Afamalik and kapwa. Testimony from the Northern Guam Soil and Water Conservation District also urged support and noted cooperatives' fit with subsistence farming and resilient local food systems.

The chair thanked witnesses and repeated that senators will follow up with GEDA, DRT, UOG and the Department of Labor to explore implementation steps and potential funding. The hearing record ends with the chair saying Resolution 83-38 "has been duly heard" at 3:21 p.m.; the transcript does not show a legislative vote or final adoption during the hearing.

The public testimony brought forward three consistent, actionable requests for lawmakers: fund or designate a cooperative development coordinator or center; direct DRT to publish forms and train staff to accept Limited Cooperative Association filings under Public Law 37-147; and fund education and technical assistance through UOG, workforce development and existing resource centers to help cooperatives access federal grants and financing.

Proponents offered to provide bylaws and incorporation templates and to partner with government agencies to incubate pilot cooperatives for farmers, makers and worker-owned businesses. Senators present acknowledged the proposals and asked agencies to return with capacity assessments and resource requests so the Legislature can consider next steps.