Tatak Este

Eastern Samar boasts for locally-made products that brought so much to the province and showed the creativity and innovativeness of Estehanons.

Coconut is one major source of livelihood in Eastern Samar.  Aptly named the "tree of life", the coconut offers so much to make a living.  Its uses are bounded by how far one will imagine because even its by-products can be made into something beautiful and useful.

The Maunlad Coco Coir Processing Plant of the Maunlad Program ARB Multi-purpose Cooperative in Hernani, Eastern Samar is into coconut by-product utilization.  It processed coconut coir and handicrafts.  The cooperative started making handicrafts from coconut in 2000 and had a small shop where they displayed their products.  In 2003, it started to process coco coir with support from the German Development Cooperation and other government agencies.  With the assistance, the cooperative was able to acquire the needed facilities and equipment to make it big and created job opportunities to the Estehanons.

The cooperative produces and supplies raw or carded coconut fiber either in natural color or based on customer's preference.  It also produces coco peat which is a by-product of decortication, separating the dust and the fiber from the husk.  Coco peat is good planting medium and can be used as fertilizer. 

Another product that the cooperative produces and sells is the natural latex rubberized liner sheets in variety of colors and designs.  These liner sheets are good decoration and packing materials.  Planters are also an attraction.  The cooperative makes hanging planters, standing pots, and wall-mounted planters in various shapes and sizes at very affordable price.

The cooperative also came up with coco handicrafts in combination with other indigenous materials like abaca, rattan, nito and sea shells that are abundant in the place.  Products like bags, placemats, casters, lampshades, baskets and many others are things to behold.

The cooperative's products had gone out to Europe, United States of America, Taiwan and Hongkong.  It captivated many during fairs and exhibits that led to more orders.  Their products are indeed Estehanons pride, showing the world that they made a difference and are making a difference, making life in Eastern Samar beautiful.