CDA at 35...

Authority (CDA) was established in 1990 under the Office of the President through Republic Act No. 6939, in fulfillment of Section 15, Article XII of the Philippine Constitution.

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This provision mandated the creation of an agency to promote the viability and growth of cooperatives as instruments of social justice and economic development.

Before the CDA's creation, cooperative concerns were handled by various government agencies, leading to fragmented policies and inconsistent regulatory oversight.

Recognizing the vital role of cooperatives in nation-building, poverty alleviation, and economic empowerment, the government established CDA as the sole registering and regulatory body for cooperatives.

Under RA 6939, the CDA is governed by a board of administrators, composed of a chairman and six members appointed by the president, with equal representation from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Additionally, four non-voting ex officio members represented the Departments of Agriculture and Transportation, the National Electrification Administration, and the Sugar Regulatory Administration.

To fulfill its mandate, CDA established extension offices in Dagupan, Manila, Naga, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao, based on necessity and financial viability.

Over the years, the CDA has undergone several organizational transitions:

• 2004—Transferred from the Office of the President to the Department of Finance (Executive Order No. 332, s. 2004) to enhance policy coordination

• 2016—Placed under the Cabinet Secretary (Executive Order No. 01, s. 2016) to support poverty reduction initiatives and align cooperative programs with broader social development efforts

• 2018—Transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (Executive Order No. 67, s. 2018) to harmonize policies and streamline services in line with the government's socio-economic agenda

• 2019—The enactment of Republic Act No. 11364 (CDA Charter of 2019) reaffirmed CDA's attachment to the DTI, solidifying its role in cooperative development within the country's economic framework