Hontiveros lauds approval of bill mandating appointment of cooperatives dev't officers
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday said she strongly believes that the appointment of permanent and local cooperative development officers (LCDOs) would e a ‘’major instrument’’ towards strengthening cooperatives especially at a time when the country is facing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Hontiveros is one of the authors of the Cooperative Development Officer Bill, which seeks to create a mandatory position for cooperatives development officer (CDO) in all local government units (LGUs).
“Ang pagsasabatas ng pagkakaroon ng Local Coops Development Officers ay panibagong instrumento ng cooperatives movement tungo sa pagtutulungan at bayanihan para sa kaunlaran, lalo na sa panahon ng ating sama-samang pagharap at pagbangon laban sa pandemya ng Covid-19 (The enactment of a law creating the position of LCDOs is a new instrument in the cooperatives movement towards community development in facing the COVID-19 pandemic).’’ Hontiveros said during the adoption of the bicameral conference committee report on the said bill.
Hontiveros said she is hopeful that the appointment of permanent local CDOs would not only strengthen the promotion and organization of cooperatives among their constituency, but also help in raising the quality of life of Filipinos, especially the poor.
Hontiveros also said that much-needed institutional support for cooperatives would now be addressed, ensuring that local governments would be able to effectively respond to their needs as partners for sustainable local economic development.
Hontiveros also authored the law that formally declares October as ‘National Cooperative Month’.
“Hindi matatawaran ang kontribusyon ng kooperatiba na siyang susi sa pag-unlad ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ng mahihirap. Sa panahon ng krisis, mas lalo nating kailangang mapalawak at mapatatag ang suporta sa kanila (The contribution of cooperatives is the key to the economic advancement of our countrymen. In times like these, we should expand and widen our support base for them),” she added.