The Province of Batangas is one of the provincial LGUs which, by virtue of Local Autonomy thru Resolution No. 292 Year 1995 and Appropriation Ordinance Number AO โ 003, Year 1995, created a full-pledged department known as the โPROVINCIAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT OFFICEโ. It has for its vision, โโEMPOWERED COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT TOWARDS SOCIO-ECONOMIC STABILITYโ, and โADVANCE COOPERATIVES AS VEHICLE IN COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION FOR VALUE, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATIONโ, for its mission. The Plans and Program on Cooperative Development are anchored on the Philippine Cooperative Medium-Term Development Plan particularly on the competitiveness of cooperatives, continuously promoting cooperatives, and providing enabling environment for cooperative strengthening and development. But prior to its creation as a department, the projects and activities on cooperative development were already incorporated in community development program of the Provincial Government thru Office of the Provincial Assistance for Community Development (PACD). In 1989, with the passage of a Sanggunian Panlalawigan Resolution, PACD became PACCD which stands for Provincial Assistance for Community and Cooperative Development. The PCDO is the CDA counterpart and direct partner in the local / provincial level in the implementation of national program and policies in cooperative promotion, organization and development. The political leadership of the province then perceived the necessity of an independent local office to directly handle the development / enhancement and sustainability of cooperatives, the backbone of community-based economic enterprise; thus the creation and operationalization of PCDO. The programs and projects under the PCDO as they were incorporated in the Provincial Development Plan and the Executive and Legislative Agenda are given appropriations in the Annual Budget for the accomplishment of set goals and targets. Another significant development in fund utilization of the department is its access to thrust funds of the province earmarked for livelihood and enterprise development.
