The First APEX Financial Cluster e-Forum hosted by the CDA Regional Office VIII was held on July 28, 2020. The purpose of the forum is to consult cooperatives in the region relative to the establishment of the APEX Financial Cluster, which will serve as a consultative body among the cooperatives engaged in credit, lending and other financial services, pursuant to RA 11364. Asec Vidal D. Villanueva, heads the Financial Cluster Sector of the CDA Board of Directors. He was the major discussant of the e-Forum along with Atty. Gloria Futalan, Chairperson of the Philippine Federation of Credit Cooperatives (PFCCO) National League. Asec Villanueva discussed REPUBLIC ACT 11364, “Cooperative Development Charter of 2019”, emphasizing among others, the additional powers, functions and responsibilities of the CDA. He emphasized in the Open Forum, that the regional APEX Financial Cluster will not collect CETF from its affiliate cooperatives, as it will only serve as coordinating / consultative body with regards to concerns, problems, prospects and opportunities for coop sector under the financial cluster.