A six-day field engagement was successfully held in Batanes with the participation of Assistant Secretary Santiago S. Lim and Assistant Secretary Luz H. Yringco, together with representatives from the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Regional Office II: Assistant Regional Director Antonio M. Addun Jr., Atty. Nita Doreen L. Maestre-Tabbu (Attorney II), Ms. Elmira E. Reyes (Senior Cooperative Development Specialist), and Ms. Jesusa P. Tumanguil (Cooperative Development Specialist II).

The mission commenced with the team’s participation in the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Regional Meeting, which provided a platform to align efforts with other government agencies and stakeholders in addressing food security and poverty alleviation through cooperatives.

As part of its commitment to local collaboration, the team made a courtesy call to the Provincial Governor, reaffirming CDA’s support for cooperative development in the province. This was followed by visits to various partner agencies to enhance coordination and promote shared goals for inclusive growth.

The team also conducted site visits to several cooperatives, engaging directly with cooperative leaders and members to assess their needs, share updates on CDA programs, and identify areas for support.

A key highlight of the trip was the brainstorming session with Assistant Secretaries Luz H. Yringco and Asec.Santiago S. Lim together with Ma’am Linda Cariaso (Designate PCDO) where strategic ideas were discussed to further strengthen the cooperative movement in the region. The activity concluded with a gap analysis and provision of technical assistance, aimed at identifying operational challenges and delivering targeted interventions for cooperative improvement.

This initiative reflects CDA’s ongoing commitment to empowering cooperatives and fostering sustainable community development.