The Provincial Cooperative Development Office (PCDO) continued to play a vital role in strengthening and advancing the cooperative sector in the province through sustained programs, capacity-building initiatives, and active stakeholder engagement. In 2025, the Office demonstrated its commitment to cooperative development through its participation in the International Cooperative Year. This engagement further enhanced the cooperative environment by fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and collective action among stakeholders.
As part of its institutional support functions, the PCDO convened the quarterly meetings of the Occidental Mindoro Provincial Cooperative Development Council, ensuring continuous coordination and policy dialogue among cooperative leaders and partner agencies. In line with this, the Office facilitated preparatory meetings for the 3rd MIMAROPA Regional Cooperative Congress 2025, which was successfully held in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. The Congress was attended by approximately 600 delegates from various provinces in the MIMAROPA Region and served as a significant platform for sharing best practices, addressing common challenges, and reinforcing regional solidarity within the cooperative movement.
Complementing these initiatives, the PCDO prioritized the provision of technical interventions aimed at enhancing the capacity, compliance, and sustainability of cooperatives. A series of seminars and workshops were conducted across the province, including Pre-Registration Seminars, Cooperative Orientation, Conflict Management Training for Cooperative Mediation Practitioners, Compliance Review Seminars, Policy Formulation Seminar-Workshops, Fundamentals of Cooperative, Simple Bookkeeping Seminar-Workshops, and Governance and Management for Cooperatives. These activities benefited cooperatives from various municipalities and were designed to strengthen organizational effectiveness, financial management, and good governance practices.
The Office also extended technical assistance to several associations aspiring to become registered cooperatives. Support was provided throughout the registration process with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), as well as in the preparation and submission of mandatory documentary requirements and reports to concerned agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). In addition, the PCDO granted financial assistance to four (4) cooperatives to help defray compliance-related expenses with the CDA and BIR and to support other cooperative development needs.
To ensure accountability and effective utilization of resources, the PCDO also conducted monitoring and evaluation activities to assess the operational status and performance of cooperatives that received financial assistance. These efforts enabled the Office to provide timely guidance and reinforce responsible management practices, ultimately contributing to the long-term viability and growth of cooperatives in the province.