In San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, the Latazon Indigenous Peoples Organization (LAIPO) is promoting community gardening to enhance the production of traditional herbal medicines. Abel Pedro, the head of LAIPO and the Iraynon Bukidnon Antique provincial tribal chairman, highlighted the initiative during an interview on January 2, 2025. The organization is particularly focused on cultivating herbs used in making ointments for skin diseases, liniments, and diuretics.
Pedro noted that they purchase herbs like herba buena at PHP50 per kilo. The group’s production capacity has significantly increased following the receipt of a PHP1.1 million shared service facility from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 2023. This facility includes a greenhouse, cooking equipment, a working table, and a water tank, which have all contributed to their expanded operations.
LAIPO showcases their products at trade fairs and the Tindahang Lokal at the Old Capitol in San Jose de Buenavista, where they have received positive feedback on the effectiveness of their herbal medicines. Production has seen a notable rise, with liniment output increasing from 25 to 50 bottles of 200 ml, and ointment production growing from 20 to 60 pieces of 200 grams per month.
Plans are underway to expand their production center in Barangay Latazon, Laua-an, to accommodate more space for processing, packaging, and labeling. Additionally, LAIPO distributes seedlings within the community to ensure a steady supply of herbs. Pedro expressed optimism about obtaining Bureau of Food and Drugs Administration approval for their tea and other capsule-form herbal medicines, such as those for stomachache, with the help of the DTI.
Currently, 12 Indigenous Peoples are directly involved in the production process, earning income based on the number of bottles they help process, package, and label. Their earnings have seen a substantial increase, with monthly incomes rising from PHP500 to as much as PHP27,000 during weeklong trade fairs organized by the DTI.