A Higaonon cooperator engaged in green livelihood in Claveria and Gingoog City has received P959,557.49 worth of equipment and facilities from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Misamis Oriental for the upgrading of its Civoleg Citronella Processing Center on 17 March 2022.

Mamacila, with 145 active members, was a recipient of oil hydro steam distililng extractor, cutter/shredder, heavy duty digital industrial platform scale with 450kg to 500kg capacity, stainless steel cabinet, and stainless table through the shared service facilities (SSF) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Misamis Oriental.

SSF is a flagship project of DTI that aims at improving MSME productivity and efficiency through better access to technology.

The upgrading of the cooperator’s Citronella Oil Processing that started in 2006 in Sitio Civoleg, Barangay Lunotan, Gingoog City will benefit 25 families in the community and will enable the cooperator to enhance and speed-up its citronella production, ensure highly systematic and efficient processing of citronella oil, improve the quality of processed citronella oil, provide sustainable jobs to the members within the ancestral land domain, and promote the involved barangays and the Municipality of Claveria and Gingoog City as known producer of quality oil in Misamis Oriental.

The official turnover ceremony was graced by DTI Misamis Oriental Provincial Director Almer Masillones, Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council Chairperson Ruben Vegafria, Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) Area Coordinator Genievive Labadan, Negosyo Center Gingoog Manager Lindy Valdevill, and MAMACILA Chairperson Erlinda Malo-ay. ♦

Date of Release: 18 March 2022