On February 24, 2026, the Cooperative Development Authority MIMAROPA formally renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC), reaffirming their partnership in the implementation of the Training of Trainers (TOT) for Cooperative Training Providers.

The renewal signing ceremony underscored the continued collaboration between CDA MIMAROPA and OMSC as one of the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) authorized to deliver the mandatory Training of Trainers for individuals and institutions intending to become Accredited Training Providers (ATPs) of the CDA.

The MOU was signed by Alberto Sabarias, Regional Director of CDA MIMAROPA, and the Vice President for the Research and Extension Office of OMSC. Serving as witnesses to the signing were Mary Yole Apple Declaro Ruedas and Eva Loraine R. Cataje, Senior Cooperative Development Specialist and Head of the Cooperative Research, Information and Training Section.

Coinciding with the MOU renewal was the opening of the first day of the Training of Trainers (TOT) for participants from the Department of Agrarian Reform MIMAROPA (DAR MIMAROPA). The department is preparing to apply as one of the region’s Accredited Training Providers and will seek formal accreditation from the CDA. The Training of Trainers is one of the key requirements for ATP accreditation and may only be obtained from SUCs with an existing MOA or MOU with the CDA, ensuring standardized and high-quality preparation aligned with CDA guidelines.

Following the signing ceremony, a brief forum and open question-and-answer session was conducted to address operational and compliance-related concerns of the participants. The discussion was joined by Richard E. Ilagan, Legal Officer and Acting Supervising Cooperative Development Specialist, who provided clarifications on legal matters and responded to specific queries regarding accreditation requirements, regulatory compliance, and other cooperative training policies.

The activity not only reaffirmed institutional partnership but also strengthened coordination among participating agencies, ensuring that prospective Accredited Training Providers are fully guided both administratively and legally as they move forward in the accreditation process.