Aiming to intensify the advocacy on food safety caravan, the Plant Product Safety Services Division (PPSSD) of the Bureau of Plant Industry - Department of Agriculture is presently conducting the Food Safety Compliance Officer’s Training and Exhibit booths on PhilGAP-Certified Produce and Quality Planting Materials. This will run from October 17 to 18 at the DA-ATI-RTC-CAR.
Messages of gratitude and commitment of support were also expressed by the various agencies present during the opening program.
Cristine Esnara of DA-ATI-CAR warmly welcomed the participants expressing appreciation for the conduct of this event emphasizing on the need to really promote food safety.
William Mugot, the chief of PPSSD reiterated that there is a great role of the local government units in the implementation of the Food Safety Act. He also provided an overview, status and ways forward of the PhilGAP Certification.
‘PhilGAP certification is a commitment, not just a requirement’, was emphasized by Delinia Juan, the Provincial Agriculturist of Benguet. Further, she attested the important role of the municipal and provincial LGU to facilitate the PhilGAP certification of the different farms in Benguet.
In addition, Kevin Jim Luna, OIC Chief of the Regulatory Division of DA-RFO CAR challenged the Cordillera to produce quality farm products in compliance with the Food Safety Act. He added the importance of having effective groundworks so that the support from the various agencies along PhilGAP certification will also be effective.
Benjamin Macadangdang from the Office of Baguio City Mayor, pointed out that having safety food is not a privilege and should be accessible to all. He commended the mobile plant food safety laboratory being undertaken by the BPI saying, “this is one of the government commitments to protect the consumers and to have a clean and safe food.
