DATI CocoCrafts
Davao City

Orlino Ladao of Matina, Davao City is the youngest of 11 siblings, but far from being spoiled, he grew up to be hardworking and disciplined. In a family known for their expertise in wood handicrafts, it was inevitable that Nonoy, as Orlino is more popularly known, learned early to make the top, or “trumpo” for sale, which started him to the road of entrepreneurship. Wood handicrafts became a family enterprise with the help from the National Cottage Industry Development Authority (NACIDA). Their product lines included small vases, utility boxes, ashtrays, and penholders in various designs. For material, they used a variety of woods from their surroundings and from rivers and swamps.

The business involved the entire family, and to optimize their efforts, the Ladao siblings used to work in the daytime and attend evening classes. When their father died, the business temporarily closed down but was revived, with Nonoy as manager. In 1998, Nonoy, now married, decided to put up DATI Cococrafts with some savings and borrowed capital. The new business offered kiln-dried and hand-painted, handcrafted coco wood novelty and souvenir items with ethnic designs. Nonoy took charge of production while his wife Detty handled marketing and promotion.

The enterprise has availed of DTI assistance in various forms: trainings on pricing and costing, negotiation skills, basics of exporting; product development assistance, which enabled the Ladaos to come up with more than 100 new designs for trade fairs; business counseling provided by DTI business counselors; participation in three National Trade Fairs in Manila, which led to linkage with four new regular Manila-based buyers in addition to SM chain of stores nationwide. In year 2003, it also availed of a P1 Million loan from the Small Business Corporation under the SULONG Program to purchase new equipment to increase production and to expand its production area. The company also plans to diversify and expand its offerings from simple souvenir items to high-end products to be able to penetrate foreign market.

It’s not all profit-making activities for the Ladaos, though. Imbued with a sense of corporate responsibility, the couple is involved in community-oriented projects, including the campaign to eradicate and prevent drug dependency, and accommodation of out-of-school youths to work in their factory.

All these efforts have contributed to the success of DATI Cococrafts, now with assets of over P3.5 Million. Another reward came in the form of Best SME Award in Davao for 2003, given by the Davao City Small and Medium Enterprise Development (SMED) Council.

From Sulong Pinoy! Stoking the Fire of Filipino Entrepreneurship vol. 1