The Cooperative Development Authority will implement a nationwide financial assistance program for cooperatives this year, targeting small and micro cooperatives in agriculture, fisheries, health and youth sectors.
The CDA’s Malasakit sa Kooperatiba Program 2026, approved through Board Resolution No. 076, S-2026, will be rolled out across all 17 regions through the agency’s Regional Extension Offices.
The program aims to help cooperatives increase capitalization, sustain operations, expand business activities and strengthen institutional capacity. It is also designed as a poverty alleviation mechanism, with priority given to micro and small cooperatives, including youth and laboratory cooperatives.
Financial assistance under the program may be used for agricultural production covering crops, livestock and fisheries; procurement of machinery, tools and equipment; working capital for business expansion; consumer inventories; training and education; and other purposes approved by the CDA Board of Directors.
Eligible applicants include primary cooperatives in the micro and small category, farmers and fisherfolk groups, and agriculture-related cooperatives engaged in production and livelihood activities. Laboratory cooperatives may apply through their guardian cooperatives.
Laboratory cooperatives, as the CDA explains, are special training cooperatives organized for minors (usually students) under the supervision of a registered cooperative. They serve as a learning ground for young people to practice cooperative values, savings, and management skills before becoming full members of regular cooperatives
To qualify, cooperatives must hold valid CDA registration and certification of compliance, maintain accreditation, and have no unliquidated financial assistance from the CDA or other government agencies, under CDA Memorandum Circular No. 2024-20.
Applications are to be submitted to the nearest CDA Regional Extension Office, where they will be evaluated and validated. Approved beneficiaries will be required to submit utilization and liquidation reports. The CDA’s regional offices will conduct regular monitoring and post-assistance assessments to track impact on capitalization, income generation and membership growth.
The program also covers assistance to cooperatives recovering from disasters and calamities, support for scaling up business operations and capacity-building for cooperative officers, members and staff.
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