THE Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) should be one of the most important agencies of the government, given its mandate to 'promote the viability and growth of cooperatives as instruments of equity, social justice and economic development,' according to Republic Act 6939 by which it was created in 1990. With so much of the Philippine population involved in micro and small enterprises or otherwise earning comparatively modest livelihoods, cooperatives are an effective means of marshaling and getting the most out of community resources for the benefit of all.