LAUA-AN: The Latazon Indigenous Peoples Organization (LAIPO) in the municipality of Laua-an is promoting community gardening to bolster its traditional herbal medicine production. This initiative aims to enhance the availability of essential herbs used in creating remedies for skin diseases, liniments, and diuretics, thereby supporting local health practices.

According to Philippines News Agency, Abel Pedro, the Iraynon Bukidnon Antique provincial tribal chairman and head of LAIPO, stated that they are urging Indigenous Peoples to cultivate herbs like herba buena, which is purchased at PHP50 per kilogram. The organization has witnessed growth in production since acquiring a PHP1.1 million shared service facility (SSF) from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 2023. This facility includes a greenhouse, cooking equipment, a working table, and a water tank.

LAIPO’s herbal medicines have gained attention through participation in trade fairs and displays at the Tindahang Lokal at the Old Capitol in San Jose de Buenavista. Pedro mentioned that feedback from consumers indicates the effectiveness of their products. The production of 200 ml liniment bottles has doubled from 25 to 50 per month, while the output of 200-gram ointments increased from 20 to 60 pieces monthly.

Plans for expanding the production center in Barangay Latazon, Laua-an, are underway, aiming to provide more space for processing, packaging, and labeling their herbal medicines. This expansion will include additional amenities to support increased production. The organization is also distributing seedlings within the community to ensure a sustainable supply of raw materials.

Pedro expressed hopes of obtaining Bureau of Food and Drugs Administration approval for their tea and other capsule-form herbal medicines with the assistance of the DTI. Currently, 12 Indigenous Peoples are directly involved in the production process, receiving payment per bottle of herbal medicine they help process, package, and label. Participation in a weeklong trade fair organized by the DTI has significantly increased their earnings from PHP500 to as much as PHP27,000.