The CDA Region VIII Extension Office renewed its CLAP partnership with the Dr. Vicente Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation (DVOREF) College of Law through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing held on September 19, 2025, at the CDA Region VIII Extension Office Third Floor Conference Hall. The MOA extends the partnership between the CDA and DVOREF for two more school years, commencing this School Year 2025-2026 and to S.Y. 2026-2027. This renewal reflects the trust and confidence both institutions have built, for the promotion of cooperative laws and sector to future lawyers who can learn and apply the same when they become members of the bar. The agreement was signed by Dir. Venus M. Jornales of the CDA Region VIII Extension Office and Atty. Dennis Aran T. Abril, Director of the Center of Legal Aid Services (CLAS) of the DVOREF College of Law, joined by Atty. Divine Grace Tan, Deputy Director. Witnessing the event were CDA personnel including Supervising CDS Maripaz M. Del Pilar and Atty. Jasper M. Carias, Attorney III and CLAP focal person in Region VIII. Supporting the event virtually were CDA OIC Administrator and Deputy Administrator Ray R. Elevazo, Atty. Leah Banagui-Han, Deputy Administrator for the Legal Affairs Service (LAS), and Atty. Sheena Rima, Chief of the Legal Division. They expressed appreciation for the MOA renewal, noting that it will enhance law students’ understanding of cooperative laws and better prepare them for real-world legal practice.

The CDA Law Awareness Program (CLAP) is an initiative by the CDA to establish linkages and collaborative partnerships with law schools all over the Philippines to strengthen awareness on laws and other significant legal matters affecting the cooperative sector through the Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) under the Law Student Practice Rule (A.M. No. 19-03-24-SC) requiring externship of Law Student Practitioners (LSPs) as part of the course requirement, to instill among them the value of legal professional social responsibility, and to prepare them for the practice of law.

This partnership with DVOREF was first forged in December 2023 and implemented during SY 2024–2025, with LSPs deployed to the CDA Region VIII Extension Office, where they gained practical experience not only in the CDA’s quasi-judicial functions but also in its regulatory and developmental work in support of the cooperative sector. Dir. Jornales expressed gratitude for the renewal, highlighting the importance of promoting cooperative laws to future lawyers who will become practitioners of law who can represent clients before the CDA or other government agencies which cooperatives have concerns. Atty. Abril gave a meaningful retort in which the partnership is extended, in which DVOREF appreciates the learning opportunity of the LSPs not just theoretical but also practical and real-world knowledge about law, which they can use when they will handle cooperatives when they become lawyers.

The partnership also is an endeavor under Sec. 19 of RA 11364, which mandates CDA’s collaboration with the academe, promoting cooperativism to all academic institutions to amplify awareness on cooperatives which can help in their growth as institutions oriented towards social justice and economic development. Being a pro community and pro-people organizations, cooperatives will be crucial to the country’s progress. Thus, a citizenry well-versed in cooperativism will provide for an educated and competent corps of employees, members, and officers which will led to better managed cooperatives. The CDA commends the DVOREF College of Law for producing competent law students who are eager and enthusiastic to deepen their understanding of cooperatives and the legal challenges they commonly face, and looks forward to more fruitful outcomes through this renewed partnership under the MOA.