 Coconut  Coconut water |
The TAnauan Leyte Women Advocates for Sustainability (TALWAS), a cooperative with 40 members, had an economic breakthrough with its virgin coconut oil (VCO). “Talwas”, which in English means relief, “shot two birds in one stone” – it provided additional income to its members and at the same time empowered the women in the community. With an initial capital of P176,000 pooled from cash contribution of its members, “TALWAS” started out in January 2005 and is growing.
TALWAS is one of about 28 members of the Association of Virgin Coconut Oil Producers (AVCOP) in Eastern Visayas . Manna is the brand name of their virgin coco oil which has passed microbiological testing (Salmonella, Ecoli, Coliform) and chemical tests (moisture content, peroxide). It has passed a two-year shelf life testing. According to AVCOP, TALWAS is one of the virgin oil producer in the country that has passed the national standards for coconut virgin oil.
Manna VCO is available at 330 milliliter and 130 milliliter plastic bottles sold at P200 and P100, respectively. These are currently sold in Tacloban City and Tanauan, Leyte . However, Manna has export prospects through a Cebu exporter which has a standing order of 10 barrels (2,000 liters) per month. Additionally, potential clients from the US and India have already ordered samples from the coop.
Other Manna products include whitening nourishing VCO (at P100), slimming nourishing VCO (at P100), vinegar (P10 for 240 milliliter), cooking oil, white cheese (P15) and organic fertilizer (P20 for 10 kilos).
The growing market for VCO stems from claims that it lowers cholesterol, cleans body toxins, strengthens digestive system, manages diabetes, controls allergy, enhances immune system and enhances metabolism. It is also an effective remedy for skin disorders, is anti-viral and anti-bacterial, ideal for massage and skin moisturizer, and promotes healthy, shiny, darker hair*.
VCO is a Flagship program of the municipality of Tanauan in Leyte , the choice commodity of the locality for the One-Town-One Product program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
At
present, Manna production volume is only about 14.5 liters of VCO per
day extracted from about 150 nuts. It is aiming to purchase a filtering
machine this year which can process 40 liters of virgin oil per hour
(960 liters per day). By then, it will have to put up satellite
production centers in the different municipalities to source out its
raw materials. For now, coconut used is sourced out from within
Tanauan, Leyte .
* Medical claims are still to be verified.