MECHANIZED BOTTLING. A worker refills bottles of Virgin Coconut Oil through automated bottling equipment in this undated photo. The Department of Trade and Industry in Negros Oriental turned over the PHP1.1 million mechanized equipment to the Barangay Liptong Small Farmers Association in Valencia, Negros Oriental last month under its Shared Services Facility program. (Photo courtesy of BLISCOFA)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Barangay Liptong Small Coconut Farmers’ Association (BLISCOFA) in Valencia, Negros Oriental is excited to compete in the world market with the automated packaging of its Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) that hastens its bottling time.
Edilberta Sogocio, BLISCOFA manager, said in an interview Thursday that with the mechanized bottling equipment given by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here, processing has become faster than ever.
“What would usually take two days of bottling an average of 50 liters of VCO manually will now take less than a day for us,” Sogocio said.
The mechanized equipment system includes 10 nozzles for the faster filling of bottles and a bottle capping machine, she added.
Sogocio said it is still too early to quantify the gains in monetary value to be reaped by the association as the modernized bottling process began just last month.
“We are still at an adjustment stage but we are optimistic that we will be earning more and selling faster with the mechanized bottling equipment,” she said.
The BLISCOFA sells their VCO in 100 ml., 500 ml., and one-liter bottles and is displayed at various outlets.
The association has 168 members and started in 2005.
It has obtained a License to Operate and a Certification of Product Registration from the Food and Drug Administration, which would allow them to penetrate the bigger market outside Negros Oriental.
Jade Bato, spokesperson of DTI-Negros Oriental, said BLISCOFA is “export-ready” with the agency’s assistance.
Last month, DTI-Negros Oriental turned over the estimated PHP 1.1 million mechanized bottling equipment to BLISCOFA.
Bato said the donation is part of DTI’s Shared Service Facility program. (PNA)
