Indigenous peoples' eco-friendly pet products enhance operations | International Labour Organization

Enterprise development

An enterprise producing eco-friendly pet care products, run by indigenous peoples in Davao del Sur, enhances safety, productivity, and nationwide reach after benefiting from the ILO's Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) Programme.

30 September 2024

DAVAO DEL SUR, Philippines (ILO News)- Madrecure Madre Cacao offers all-natural and eco-friendly pet care products. Established by members of the Bagobo Dyangan tribe, an indigenous group from Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur in 2017, the company now expands its market nationwide.

With their participation in the ILO’s Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE), they improved good housekeeping practices to avoid potential accidents, established a monitoring system for incorrect deliveries, installed bulletin boards for OSH and production performance, established a customer feedback monitoring system, and posted of Safety Scoreboard indicating details of accident cases at the workplace. They are gradually becoming more compliant with the occupational safety and health (OSH) requirements of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“Our greatest appreciation to the International Labour Organization (ILO) for the learnings brought to us by the SCORE project through our trainer. Our learning eventually enhanced our existing system to continually improve. With this, we look forward to more partnership with the ILO," said Ace Verzosa, CEO of Madrecure Madre Cacao.

Madrecure Madre Cacao like other enterprises that benefitted, received training and coaching on the SCORE programme to enhance productivity and improve working conditions. Working closely with an ILO-certified SCORE trainer, Ms Florife Gallarde, the company engaged in dialogue with its workers in implementing practical, cost-effective solutions to address challenges on productivity, occupational safety and health, and working conditions, in general. The Bringing Back Jobs Safely (BBJS) project funded by the Government of Japan supported and provided assistance to the Madrecure Madre Cacao through the SCORE Programme.