On February 10, 2026, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the Mayor of Bautista, Pangasinan to discuss the creation of the Municipal Cooperative Development Council (MCDC) and the creation of a Municipal Cooperative Development Office (MCDO).

During the visit, Mayor Rosemarie G. Gacutan was briefed on various cooperative programs and activities, including various trainings and seminars, compliance caravans, and tree-growing initiatives. These activities were presented as vital steps toward strengthening cooperative development and institutionalizing the MCDC in the municipality.

Through this initiative, the CDA expects to foster stronger collaboration among the local government of Bautista, cooperatives, and other key stakeholders. This move underscores the municipality’s commitment to empowering cooperatives as partners in grassroots development, promoting inclusive economic growth, environmental sustainability, and good governance at the local level.   Arlenne C. Espinoza, CDS II