Tagbilaran City – Twenty-two (22) Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) livelihood beneficiaries and recipients of OWWA’s reintegration program in food processing concluded the training on Basic Food Safety on September 16, 2024, at Agricultural Training Institute-VII (ATI-7) in this city.

The training aims to capacitate participants’ knowledge, skills, and orientation/attitude on food safety and good manufacturing practices. Specifically, it seeks to explain the basic requirements and importance of food safety in food production/processing; Describe the elements of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and their significance in food processing/manufacturing; Practice personal hygiene, cleaning, and sanitation in preventing food contamination.

The resource person is Doris Isabel Racho, DM who is the ATI-7 Food Safety focal person and soon-to-be a regular member of the Bohol Food Safety Team (BFST). Also gracing the training were Atty. John Gabriel Ramos & Rolaine Uy of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce Inc. (BCCI), and Noemi Olaer of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Bohol as the training is one of the final requirements of Dr. Racho in the BFST.

The topics discussed include Introduction to Food Safety, Significance of GMP in Food Processing, Preventing Food Contamination: The Crucial Role of Personal Hygiene, Cleaning, and Sanitation. The training is in collaboration with OWWA Bohol spearheaded by Mr. Reymark Madulara its Family Welfare Officer.

“Basic food safety is very relevant and important in my processing business, the topics are practical and there’s a lot to cope with. My prayer this office will continue to conduct training most especially for the grassroots community to enhance more learnings and to give importance to food safety.” – said Mrs. Marcelina Castillon, one of the participants.