The Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), through its Registration Division, participated in the Department of Agriculture (DA) National Rice Program under the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP), FY 2026 First MRIDP Clustering and Consolidation Workshop, held from February 23-27, 2026 at The Tropics, MacArthur Park, Palo Leyte.
The workshop focused on key initiatives, including the profiling of clusters of farmers’ and fisherfolk associations to gather baseline data on organizational structure, membership, production capacity, assets, financial status, market linkages, and operational challenges. Participants also underwent a brief orientation on crafting the Cluster Development Plan (CDP), which serves as a medium- to long-term roadmap aligned with MRIDP objectives and forms part of the required planned activities for cluster development.
The highlight of the activity was the rollout and simulation of the Farmers and Fisherfolk Organizations and Registration Information System (FFORIS), a digital platform that streamlines online registration, profile updating, document submission, and data validation. The hands-on simulation ensured proper system utilization and accurate data encoding.
Discussions also covered capacity building for clusters, structured meetings with farm cluster leaders, and presentation of regional clustering targets and updates, ensuring alignment of initiatives and addressing operational concerns.
The workshop was attended by partner government agencies, including the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), which provided policy guidance and program updates to harmonize support interventions.
As part of their plan, in partnership with the CDA, clusters that have successfully completed profiling, preparation of the CDP, capacity-building activities, system registration, and other coordination requirements may be formally endorsed for cooperative registration with the CDA. Such endorsement signifies that the group has fulfilled the necessary organizational, structural, and operational requirements, enabling its transition from an informal cluster into a legally recognized and sustainable cooperative enterprise.
Through sustained inter-agency cooperation and strategic cluster development, the MRIDP initiative advances its goal of transforming farm clusters into viable and registered cooperatives that contribute to a more resilient and competitive rice sector.
The workshop reaffirmed the shared commitment of partner agencies to support organized clustering efforts and facilitate the successful transition of qualified clusters into formally registered and sustainable cooperatives.
