IBA, Zambales (PIA) — A total of 30 members of the Cawag Sapao Farmers and Fisherfolks Association Inc. attended a two-day training on Basic Food Safety and Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) conducted by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Subic, Zambales.
The training aims to strengthen the capacity of agrarian reform beneficiaries to produce safe and quality food products while supporting their livelihood initiatives, particularly their bagoong-making enterprise.
DAR Zambales Program Beneficiaries Development Division Section Chief Dana Domingo encouraged the participants to maximize the assistance provided by the government.
“Beneficiaries should value the assistance provided by the government because it can help improve their lives by starting small businesses such as their bagoong making. As the saying goes, ‘business is the only money-making machine,” she said.
Department of Science and Technology Provincial Science and Technology Office Zambales Supervising Science Research Specialist Diana Cecilia Zambrano-Estrella discussed government standards and proper food safety practices to ensure that food products are processed under controlled and sanitary conditions.
She also explained the importance of applying Current Good Manufacturing Practices, or CGMP, which refer to guidelines that help ensure food products are consistently produced and handled according to safety and quality standards.
Through such initiatives, the DAR Zambales continues to assist agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations through capability-building activities aimed at improving their livelihood opportunities. (Reia G. Pabelonia)
