Coco farmers appreciate Food Safety and GMP

"Food safety is everybody's concern," declares the Eastern Visayas Food Safety Team. For this reason, even aspiring food manufacturers need to understand their responsibility as far as production of safe food is concerned.

A group of coconut farmers from Brgy. Looc, Almeria, Biliran was made aware of the basics of food safety though a lecture on Food Safety and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)which form part of their training on Village Level Coconut Based Food Processing on June 25-28, 2014 at Looc, Almeria, Biliran.

A total of 32 participants, both men and women, who are members of the Looc Small Coconut Farmers Association in Almeria. The group was headed by Mr. Pastor Mecaydor, who is also the Barangay Chairman of Looc. The group was organized and assisted by the Philippine Coconut Authority, Biliran headed by Mr. Ladislao Atuel, the Provincial Manager. The training was facilitated by the Agricultural Training Institute, VSU, Baybay, Leyte

The DOST Biliran Provincial Director, Mr. Romeo L. Dignos presented the topic on Food Safety which covers basic principles on food safety, different types of hazards, and a brief discussion on DOH Administrative Order 153 s. 2004 that is the REVISED GUIDELINES ON CURRENT GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICE IN MANUFACTURING, PACKING, REPACKING, OR HOLDING FOOD. Mr Dignos also discussed the importance of appropriate labeling and packaging as part of cGMP and food safety advocacy. Packaging and Labeling is embodied in RA 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines under Chapter IV of the Act.