The shared service facility (SSF) provided by the Department of Trade and Industry to an organization of indigenous peoples (IPs) in the municipality of Laua-an augmented the herbal medicines production, serving as their source of livelihood.

The components of the PHP1.1-million SSF include a greenhouse, cooking wares, working table, and water tank, among others, when the association started serving as its co-operator last year.

Latazon Indigenous People Organization (LAIPO) leader Abel Pedro, in an interview on Tuesday, said that with the greenhouse, they produced herbal plants like an insect repellant and relaxant citronella and an antifungal Akapulko, both spared from the extreme heat due to the El Niño phenomenon.

“Before, we were only making ointment, but because we have the equipment, now, we can also make liniment, diuretic and cleansing teas,” he said.

From a monthly income of PHP500 out of making ointment, they now earn PHP6,000.

A 50-millimeter (ml) liniment bottle costs PHP75, while 200 ml is PHP200.

The 15-gram ointment is PHP75, and the 60 grams is PHP200.

“We display at the Balay Local at the old capitol and in our other outlets,” he said.

Their membership also increased to 12 from three because they need more workforce for mass production, especially during trade fairs.

“The trade fairs organized by the DTI are really helpful to us, for we can sell and at the same time get orders,” he said. (PNA)