June 10, 2025 — Representatives from various national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and private sector organizations gathered both onsite and online for the 2nd Quarter 2025 Full Council Meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) VIII, held at the Multi-Purpose Hall of Ormoc City Hall, Ormoc City. Representing the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Region VIII Extension Office were Regional Director Venus M. Jornales, Irene R. Petilla, Senior CDS- CSF Section, Rowan L. delos Santos, Senior CDS- CPDAS and Ivy C. Avestruz, CDS II- CSF Section. The meeting was presided over by Hon. Lucy Torres-Gomez, RDC VIII Chairperson and Mayor of Ormoc City, and co-chaired by Private Sector Representative (PSR) Leo Christian V. Lauzon, RDC VIII Co-Chairperson and PSR for Persons with Special Concerns. The meeting has 3 parts as follows:

1. Regional Development Concerns
2. Organizational Concerns
3. Sectoral and Affiliate Committee Concerns

Among the key matters discussed under the Sectoral and Affiliate Committee Concerns was RDC VIII–EDC Resolution No. 9, Series of 2025, which was adopted during the RDC–Economic Development Committee (EDC) VIII meeting held on June 3, 2025, at the DEPDev (formerly NEDA) VIII Office, Government Center, Palo, Leyte. Likewise, Director Karina Rosa S. Tiopes, RDC VIII–EDC Chairperson and Regional Director of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region VIII, presented the resolution, which recommends the approval and endorsement of a strong call for LGUs in Eastern Visayas to support and actively participate in the establishment of Credit Surety Fund (CSF) Cooperatives across the  region.

The resolution was duly approved by the members of the RDC along with other resolutions presented. This initiative is envisioned to promote financial inclusion and economic resilience, particularly among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), by improving their access to credit through the CSF mechanism. The proposed cooperatives are expected to foster local economic growth by enabling entrepreneurs and small businesses to secure loans without conventional collateral requirements.

We deeply appreciate the EDC’s support and endorsement to the RDC full body, which is instrumental in our journey. Their collaboration brings us closer to fostering stronger partnerships and achieving inclusive economic development through the CSF Program.