Online food business is growing due to restrictions brought about by the pandemic. The small-scale business owners who are inclined in preparing food at home are inexperienced in practicing food safety protocols. Adding to their burden, they are also coordinating and negotiating with motorcycle riders or vehicle owners to deliver orders to intended destinations and meet recipients at the nearest checkpoints during MGCQ.
In order to help our micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to have knowledge with safe food handling and to create awareness on food safety management, the Negosyo Center Pakil of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Laguna Provincial Office, conducted SME Roving Academy (SMERA) entitled “Food Safety Awareness and Proper Food Handling” last March 16, 2022 held via Zoom and Facebook live stream. The event was spearheaded by Engr. Jeramie V. Katigbak, of Municipal Engineering Office, Manila Bay Clean-Up, Rehabilitation and Preservation Program and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office — Local Government Unit Pakil.
The webinar was also hosted by Negosyo Center Business Counselor (NCBC) Andrea Mae I. Macuha of Negosyo Center Pakil. It was commenced with an opening prayer led by the Business Counselor followed by opening remarks of DTI Laguna’s Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist (STIDS) Angela Luz P. Salvador. After such, Macuha commenced the brief introduction of the speaker.
Engr. Katigbak opened the virtual lecture by playing news on food-related incidents, then proceeded by discussing the implementing rules and regulations of food establishments as imbibed in the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 856). She explained the step-by-step process of acquiring a sanitary permit and the requirements needed when operating food establishments. She also discussed the common food-borne diseases, its classifications, and shared other hygienic practices for food handlers such as methods of cleaning and sanitation. Lastly, she suggested to participants to go through Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) as it is an important component of food handling. After the presentation, Engr. Katigbak answered all the questions from participants.
A total of 100 participants from different municipalities and cities attended the said webinar and more than 59 Facebook users were seen viewing the event via DTI-Laguna Facebook page — from Pakil, Los Baños, Calamba, Bulacan, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Dumaguete, Negos Oriental, Sorsogon, and Tarlac.
The webinar received positive comments from the participants and they expressed their satisfaction with the learning activity and that they are pleased to join the future free webinars offered by DTI Laguna.♦
Date of Release: 11 April 2022