DOST to launch nationwide unified training modules on Food Safety

By: Myrrh Caithlin L. Gutierrez

After a year of thorough research and consultation with relevant stakeholders, the unified food safety training modules will be launched to the public on June 8, 2018.  The launching will be held at the Titanium Auditorium, MIRDC DOST Compound, Bicutan, Taguig City. The event will be graced by the presence of Honorable Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato T. Dela Peña.

The main objective of unifying the food safety modules is to standardize the training materials being used by the 17 regions. During the presentation of Action Plans in the Food Safety training in NYP Singapore which ran from April 2016 - March 2017, the participants acknowledged that the modules being used are different across the regions in terms of focus on topics and references. To address the differences, the participants have committed to unify the modules so that the topics that they discuss are uniform anywhere they are taught.

Before the development of modules, a Training Needs Assessment (TNA) was conducted by each region to determine the needs of MSMEs in terms of technical assistance thru trainings. Their feedback    was incorporated by the consultants to ensure that their needs will be met. Aside from the TNA, the Unified Food Safety Modules were also developed using gold standard references to ensure that the information are up-to-date. The references include the Food Establishments - Code on Sanitation of the Philippines, the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, and the Codex Alimentarius - General Principles of Food Hygiene.

The Food Safety training modules are composed of training presentations, teacher’s manual, learner’s manual, and examination booklet on the three components of Food Safety namely: Food Safety Hazards, Basic Food Hygiene, and Good Manufacturing Practices.

These training modules are the product of the DOST CALABARZON’s project “Harmonization of Food Safety Training Modules for Food Manufacturing” which was funded by the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). The food micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that need assistance especially in training about Food Safety shall benefit from these modules. The DOST Regional Offices, DOST- Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI),  Department of Health (DOH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA),and Dr. Alonzo A. Gabriel, the project consultant, and his team from the Department of Food Science and Nutrition of UP Diliman, has also been of great help to the completion of the modules.

The training modules are part of DOST’s efforts to support the “Food Safety Act of 2013” that necessitates the continuous provision of assistance to food supply chains for them to comply with the food safety requirements and regulations. The law states: “Skills training and other instructional/educational activities shall be regularly provided to food business operators, food handlers and to government personnel” – RA 10611 Section 31 (Training).