The main objective of the activity is to equip the members of the cooperative with skills and knowledge in product development based on standard good manufacturing practices and food safety measures to be able to compete in the current market, thus increasing household income.
Imelda Agrarian Reform Cooperative (IMARCO) is a CDA registered cooperative since 2003 with a total of 109 members coming from Brgy. Imelda, Naval, Biliran. Most of the products made by the cooperative are rice-based delicacies namely moron, suman, puto cheese and among others. IMARCO is one of the assisted by DAR Provincial Office Leyte-Biliran thru the Program Beneficiaries Development Division which helps identify and provide trainings for community-based livelihood and enterprise development.
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| Ms. Isabelita M. Pamposa, SRS II/ PSTC- Samar, discussing GMP to IMARCO members |
The activity was made possible through the request for technical assistance focusing on GMP and Food Safety topics coming from DAR to DOST thru PSTC-Biliran office. DOST then tapped the expertise of the members of the EVFST, which acted by sending Resource Speakers in the persons of Ms. Isabelita M. Pamposa (SRS II, PSTC Samar) and Mr. Emmanuel E. Lagdamen (SRS II, DOST RSTL). Aside from topics on GMP and Food Safety, the team also discussed requirements for a License to Operate (LTO) from FDA considering that the cooperative is into food production.
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Ocular visit of EVFST to the IMARCO
production facility (still under construction). |
After the training, the EVFST conducted an ocular visit to the production facility, which is still undergoing construction. The visit was intended to check if the location and premises of the facility conforms to the GMP, particularly on facility lay-outing.
With the activity conducted, IMARCO is expected to have a production facility that conforms to GMP, a more improved food products and later on, acquire LTO from FDA.