A COCO SUCCESS

(By: Donna Mae C. Navaro)

Mr. Jojo Buendia, owner of “Eliong’s Distillery” started his business unexpectedly. A businessman offered to buy his five-hectare land in Brgy. Ilayang San Roque was offered by a businessman for one hundred fifty pesos per tree. Mr. Buendia thought of it, then later realized that he will get more income if he, himself will put up a business. His parents and siblings lent him PHP 400,000 for him to start his lambanog business.

He approached the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and availed the services of the agency to develop and improve his small business. He also attended various business seminars provided by DTI – Laguna through SME Roving Academy, then later on became member of the Association of Laguna Food Processors Inc. (ALAFOP).

As the business was going smoothly, there came a point that lambanog industry fell down because of an issue arise in the year 2018. The issue was about the men who died after they drank Lambanog from ­Quezon Province then found out that the lambanog they drank was poisoned. Mr. Buendia thought that it was the downfall of his business but as the 2019 started, many customers encouraged him to produce more lambanog products because the election season will be up.

Last March 2019, he approached DTI Laguna again to avail the P3 Loan Program for him to develop the production of his business and be the answer on his problem. After weeks of processing, they were granted to avail the loan and they were very thankful of it.

“Madaming naitulong sa business ko ang DTI, unang-una ‘yan ngang si P3, tapos ‘yung mga seminar natin. Actually, dati naman nu’ng sa wine namin nu’ng sa Coop natulungan din kami sa mga pagco-comply sa Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sa branding, tapos ‘yung continues na product improvement sa DTI ko lahat natutunan ‘yon kaya nakasuporta ako sa mga programa ng DTI.”

Eliong’s Distillery is more popular than the other Lambanog Producers in Liliw, Laguna even in other municipalities. They were also featured in i-Juander in GMA that helped them to advertise and promote their product.

To end, Mr. Jojo Buendia aims to have his business more established so that he can provide more job opportunities to his neighbors and have a stable life for his family.