MAMBAJAO, Camiguin (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) trains cacao processors in Camiguin on food safety and current good manufacturing practices on January 24–25 at Maslog, Balbagon, Mambajao.
Eager to upskill employees directly involved in its daily processing, Mama Jita’s Food Processing enrolled 18 of its employees in the training, 7 of whom are males and 11 are females. Mama Jita’s Food Products, renowned for its cacao-based products such as tablea (chocolate tablets) and choco drinks, prioritizes yearly training to ensure top-notch food safety standards.
Troy Anthony A. Omol, a science research specialist and member of the DOST-10 Food Safety Team, emphasized the importance of adhering to these practices to produce quality food products. “As food handlers, you must strictly adhere to the food safety standards to ensure your consumers’s safety. Remember that your consumers are the lifeblood of our business," he said.
Owner Julieta Dela Cerna expressed her gratitude during the training, where she highlighted the relevance of the training to the continuous improvement of her production operation. She guaranteed the DOST that what her employees have learned will be strictly applied in their business.
“Dako akong pasalamat sa DOST Camiguin sa ilahang gihatag nga higayon nga maka-conduct ug food safety training sa akoang business. Kini dako kaayo nga tabang para sa pag-improve sa proseso sa akong production area ug pag-obligar sa akong mga trabahante kung unsa ka importante ang food safety sa pagbuhat og tablea," Cerna said.
[I am grateful to DOST Camiguin for the opportunity they provided by lending their time to conduct food safety training in my business. This highlighted the significance of improving the production process in my production area and emphasizing the importance of food safety in the production of chocolate tablets]
DOST Camiguin Director Joanne Katherine R. Banaag also shared a reminder with all the participants in the training. “Food safety is everybody’s responsibility. All of us should be responsible for preventing foodborne illnesses across the supply chain. This will then assure the safety of the food supply as a whole,” Banaag said.
The firm is also a beneficiary of the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) of DOST. Aside from the technology upgrades, DOST has also provided experts to help improve the productivity and efficiency of the firm through the Manufacturing Productivity Extension Program (MPEX) of the Consultancy and Training Unit of the agency.
Mama Jitas Food Products has also recently partnered with the DOST Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) for the Venture Financing Program, where they have secured funding for the required raw and packaging materials relative to the surge of purchase orders they had received.
Through these science and technology interventions, the firm has recorded a 22 percent increase in sales and a 20 percent increase in productivity. Through innovation, they have also produced Ice Sikwate (a chocolate drink) as their new product variant.
Mama Jita’s has provided nine employees in her production area and nine employees on her farm, totaling 18 quality jobs since their upgrade in 2021.
The DOST Camiguin continues to support MSMEs on the island through the SETUP program. Interested MSMEs may reach the office by visiting them at the Government Center, Lakas, Poblacion, Mambajao, or through their Facebook page, DOST Camiguin. (DOST-10/PIA-10/Camiguin)
