NOW AND THEN: Rural Improvement Club (RIC) Federation Citronella-based Products

In their aspiration to contribute in the industry sector in town, a group of women from Lal-lo, Cagayan formally registered the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) Federation a non-stock, non-profit federation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on October 9, 2017.

In the year 2015, with the leadership of Board Member Hon. Maria Olivia Pascual, the club was duly organized in support to the Campaign Project of Lal-lo Local Government, in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology ((DOST), to fight and eradicate Dengue.

Realizing the benefits of citronella and adding their vision to make their community a green and healthy one for their constituents, the club came up with the idea to venture in Citronella Processing.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also played a big part in the success of Lal-lo RIC, as it gave the business a brand that is known in the national market. Since 2018, when Noemi Agcaoili, a representative of the club joined the Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) Program of DTI and Go Negosyo, the market of the club expanded at its widest level. The citronella products of the federation never passed the opportunity to join all of the DTI-initiated activities like Padday na Lima Regional Trade Fair, National Trade Fair, Manila FAME, National Arts and Crafts Fair, and Mega Trade Fair that contributed to the exposure of the product for both local and international markets. As a testament to the club’s products, the Local Government of Tuguegarao City ordered 30 Liters of Citronella Oil in celebration for its Annual AFI Festival.