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CDA Regional Director Alawi Pays Courtesy Visit to Cagwait Mayor Batiancila

Posted on September 25, 2025

Cagwait, Surigao del Sur — On September 24, 2025, Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Regional Director Monatao Honeya R. Alawi paid a courtesy visit to the Honorable Glenn G. Batiancila, REE, Local Chief Executive of the Municipality of Cagwait, Surigao del Sur, to further strengthen the partnership between the CDA and the local government unit (LGU) in advancing cooperative development.

In the meeting, Director Alawi discussed the implementation of Republic Act No. 11535, otherwise known as “An Act Making the Position of a Cooperatives Development Officer Mandatory in the Municipal, City, and Provincial Levels.” The said law, enacted in April 2021, institutionalizes the position of a Cooperatives Development Officer (CDO) as a regular plantilla item in all LGUs, recognizing the crucial role of cooperatives as engines of inclusive growth and social equity.

RA 11535 amended the Local Government Code of 1991 by ensuring that every LGU shall appoint a qualified CDO who will serve as the focal person for cooperative concerns. The CDO is tasked to formulate measures, develop programs, and provide technical assistance to strengthen cooperatives and promote their sustainability within their respective jurisdictions.

Director Alawi emphasized that the establishment of the CDO position will enable local cooperatives to access capacity-building programs, livelihood opportunities, and government interventions more efficiently. She further assured CDA’s full support in guiding LGUs for the effective rollout of the law and in enhancing the cooperative movement in Surigao del Sur.

Mayor Batiancila, in response, expressed his gratitude for the visit and conveyed his commitment to align the municipality’s initiatives with CDA’s programs. He highlighted the LGU’s recognition of cooperatives as vital partners in promoting socio-economic development, especially in empowering farmers, fisherfolk, and small entrepreneurs in Cagwait.

The courtesy visit marked a stronger collaboration between the CDA and the Municipality of Cagwait towards ensuring the effective implementation of RA 11535 and the continued growth of the cooperative sector as a key partner in local development.