CDA and DSWD Partner to Bring the Cooperative Movement to the Pag-abot Program Beneficiaries

In a pioneering move to provide sustainable economic opportunities for the homeless, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) has partnered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to introduce the cooperative concept to beneficiaries of the DSWD’s Pag-abot Program. This program is a DSWD initiative dedicated to reaching out to and rescuing families and individuals in street situations (FISS).

Recognizing the potential of the cooperative model to foster self-help and collective entrepreneurship, the Cooperative Development Auithority-National Capital Region Extension Office (CDA-NCREO) held its first cooperative orientation on March 17, 2026. The session, conducted at the Pag-Abot Processing Center in the Nasdake Building, Pasay City, was attended by 15 beneficiaries. DSWD officials, including Mr. Jonathan Ferry, Project Development Officer III of the Subsidy Assistance Section, and Mr. Ramil Mapoy, Social Welfare Officer IV of the Partnership Section, welcomed the attendees.

This cooperative orientation is scheduled to become a regular event, with sessions planned two to three times monthly. Staff from the CDA-NCREO’s Cooperative Project Development and Assistance Section (CPDAS) will alternately conduct the training, with the next sessions set for March 24 and 31.

The ultimate goal of this partnership is to instill a proper mindset among the beneficiaries, enabling them to eventually join existing cooperatives that can accommodate them as members. Alternatively, the program aims to empower the beneficiaries to form their own cooperatives, with essential support and guidance from Local Government Units (LGUs). This initiative is expected to pave a path toward dignified, cooperative-based livelihood for some of the most vulnerable members of society.