THE role of cooperatives in the economy has not been given the importance that it deserves primarily due to lack of awareness, by the people particularly, on how cooperatives have been performing a critical role in formalizing economic activities that have benefited especially the informal and marginalized sector. The enactment of RA 6939 on March 10, 1990 marked a milestone creating the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to promote the viability and growth of cooperatives as instruments of equity, social justice and economic development. Subsequently, RA 9520 was enacted on Feb. 17, 2009 amending further the Cooperative Code of 2008.