The Gil Montilla Agrarian Reform Cooperative (GMARC) in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental is producing natural soaps made of rice and other plant-based materials to boost their income with assistance from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The cooperative, composed of 95 farmer members, started making soaps, which they supply to users mainly in southern Negros city and to some government agencies, in 2022.

As of Monday, GMARC is using a new production facility in Barangay Gil Montilla, where the cooperative owns a 7,540-meter lot with space for its rice mill, solar dryer, warehouse, and demonstration garden.

Chairperson Arnold Aluyen said in an interview that they are stepping up efforts to improve production quality and get registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the support of the DAR Village Level Farm-Focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) program.

“With the assistance we receive, we are doing our part in managing the enterprise well,” he added.

Last Oct. 31, GMARC received from the DAR Negros Occidental 2 (South) the facilities for a soap processing center with materials amounting to PHP500,000, which is part of the PHP1.1 million allotted by the DAR for the soap-making project.

The remaining PHP600,000 was allocated for seminars and training to equip members with skills in product development.

“The cooperative shouldered the expenses for labor and other materials. The construction of a processing center is a requirement of the FDA,” Aluyen said.

GMARC’s natural handmade soap variants include rice milk and charcoal, rice milk and honey vera, coconut oil and sea salt, coffee and molasses, and noni and moringa.

The cooperative recently started limited production of oatmeal soap and artisan glycerin soap, as well as natural liquid soap and therapeutic oil.

For those visiting the city, the products of GMARC are available at the newly-opened Hiyas Sipalay City Pasalubong Shop, managed by the Association of Sipalay Producers.

Located at the Sipalay City Multi-Purpose Center, the shop is part of the “Lakbay Sipalay Creative Tours” crafted by the city government with a grant from the 2024 Lunsod Lunsad of the Department of Trade and Industry. (PNA)