Companies and manufacturers try to make their products and services safe for the environment in the light of consumers becoming more aware and conscious of the present environmental conditions.

A company in a quiet town in Marinduque is working on the production of environment-friendly products as well as the implementation of eco-conscious manufacturing processes. But MarinduqueLand Corp. goes beyond care for mother nature by taking to heart their mission of uplifting the standard of living of coconut farmers and raising awareness of the tremendous value of the country’s indigenous materials.

“The success of our business model is dependent on how we can make our operation as green as possible… Our solution is to manufacture goods that conform to nature,” says marketing manager Archie Armada.

MLC’s products range from soap to body oil and massage gel; vapor rub, lip balm to sun block, insect repellant, and lotion bar; bagoong (shrimp paste) to honey, and kalamay-hati (sweet condiment) all of which use the purest virgin coconut oil (VCO) and apis cerna (Marinduque’s native honeybees called ligwan) beeswax.

VCO boasts of a long list of health benefits, which also includes benefits on skin care such as preventing dryness and premature aging, keeping the skin moisturized, as well as treating various skin problems. Beeswax, on the other hand, improves the appearance and consistency of creams which is far more superior than petroleum-based products. With this, the company markets its product line under the brand name Heaven’s Cure believing that these by-products of nature are indeed heaven-sent.

MLC is consistent in its claim that the company’s products have no chemical component. “We don’t rely on artificial chemicals but count on coconuts, bee by-products, and herbal extracts to concoct safer products for consumers,” explains Armada. As a result, not only are their products completely safe to use but also has longer shelf life.

MarinduqueLand Corp. also promotes natural and organic farming aiming to integrate all aspects of coconut farming and species interdependent on its produce particularly the apis cerna, since the bees’ survivability depends on their habitat free of harmful pesticides and chemicals. The company works hand in hand with local farmers to ensure the advancement of this goal.

“We value the diversity of life and the interdependence of species because the growth of our business is intertwined with the sustainability of our natural resources,” the marketing manager further elucidates

Commendable is the manufacturer’s goal of creating more jobs and opportunities in the country, beginning in Marinduque. They hope that the establishment of a village-type oil mill and local apiculture will serve as a template for other coconut-producing provinces in the Philippines.

“Our strategy is to bring the manufacturing operation close to the source of raw materials… We aim to break the cycle of developmental imbalance by producing the finished products in the impoverished areas and sell it profitably to the more affluent market, “ he explains.

MLC is also committed to raising awareness on the importance and value of indigenous materials, as this will ensure the survival of the plant and animal species where these materials come from.

Companies like MarinduqueLand Corp. whose driving force is not only their commitment to excellence, but also, more importantly, their commitment to the promotion and advancement of a greater cause, should be given the chance to make known to the world what they have to offer. This is what MLC intends to do; and in order to go about this, the company has chosen to participate for the first time in the country’s most comprehensive trade fair- the National Trade Fair. NTF, for 18 years, has served as a launch pad for small and medium enterprises that would like to penetrate the international market.

Last March 12 to 15, at the SMX Convention Center, more than 200 SMEs from all over the regions of the country joined MarinduqueLand Corp. in realizing their dream of making it big.

The National Trade Fair was led by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry and co-organized by the Regional Operations Development Group and the Bureau of Domestic Trade. For more information, visit www.ntf.com.ph or contact Citem’s special projects division at (+632) 831-2336 or 831-2201 local 276 or e-mail sprojects@citem.com.ph. Dinna Chan Vasquez