Phase 2 of the
Department of Science
and Technology CALABARZON’s (DOST-CALABARZON) technical assistance for cooperative
beneficiaries in food processing enterprises, under
the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural
Development Project (DAPRDP) in CALABARZON,
is underway. This phase
is focused on conducting a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and
Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure (SSOP)
Manual writeshop, held
at Argosino Hall, LARES
Compound, Lipa City, from
October 17 to 18.
The writeshop
aimed to help cooperative
beneficiaries prepare their
individual GMP Manuals,
a crucial step for their
application for a license
to operate from the Food
and Drug Administration.
The topics covered included the preparation of
each cooperative’s profile, organizational chart,
plant location, plant layout, premises’ condition
and sanitation, equipment
specifications, process
flow diagrams, process
descriptions, quality control procedures, product
specifications, raw material specifications, GMP
documentation, sanitation
audits, storage and distribution, product recall,
retention of samples, and
risk management plans.
The writeshop
also included the preparation of SSOP Manuals,
which covered a sanitation plan for production
areas, equipment, tools,
utensils, personnel health
and education, pest control, safety of water, prevention of cross-contamination, maintenance of
handwashing facilities,
protection of food, food
packaging materials, and
food contact surfaces
from adulteration, labeling, storage, use of toxic
compounds, temperature
monitoring, product recall,
and risk management.
The eight cooperative beneficiaries,
namely Aga Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative,
Magsasakang Tanaueño
Agricultural Marketing
Cooperative, Tanauan
Organic Natural Farming Association, Quezon
Federation and Union of
Cooperatives, Guinayangan Coffee Agri-farmers,
Processors, and Entrepreneurs Agriculture Cooperative, Cacao Growers’ Association of Lopez,
Samahan ng Magsasaka
ng Barangay Nieva, and
Luisiana Cacao Grower
Producers Cooperative,
were able to complete the
initial draft of their GMP
Manuals following the
writeshop. These manuals
will serve as their guiding documents for implementing GMP within their
respective organizations,
strengthening their food
safety and quality systems.
Resource speakers for the writeshop included Mr. Mhark Ellgine
A. Libao, Mr. John Maico
M. Hernandez, Ms. Anna
Marie M. Marasigan, and
Mr. John Michael A. Florendo, who are members
of DOST CALABAR
