DOST trains La Castellana entreps on product dev’t

LA CASTELLANA – Some 30 member-producers of various associations here were trained on product development, mainly on packaging and labeling, by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Monday.

Engineer Allan Francis Daraug, provincial director of DOST-Negros Occidental, said the Municipal Planning Office of La Castellana has tapped them to conduct a forum on the programs and projects of the agency this year for food processors.

During the forum held at Villa Indo Pension House and Restaurant in Barangay Robles, DOST-Negros Occidental underscored the importance of packaging and labeling as tools in improving and maintaining product competitiveness.

Daraug said they target to provide free packaging and labeling services to 70 enterprises in the province this year.

The program will cover 10 companies in every district of the province, including Bacolod City.

“We will provide these firms free packaging materials as well as label designs and stickers,” Daraug said, adding that as more local producers are practicing value-adding to further boost income, efforts on product development should also be strengthened.

DOST-Negros Occidental records showed that currently about 40 establishments and groups have qualified to avail of the program, but there are still 30 slots available.

The agency targets to simultaneously distribute the packaging materials to all 70 recipients-enterprises during the last quarter of the year.

Those with good packaging have competitive edge over other products in the market as “good look” can capture the attention of buyers, Daraug pointed out.

Aside from the packaging and labeling training, DOST-Negros Occidental also conducted an orientation on food safety.

There is a need to increase the awareness of local food processors on the standards of preparing and handling food products, Daraug said.

“Good packaging and labeling is useless if products are not within the safety standards,” he said, adding that participants are urged to echo the activity to other members of their respective associations.

The La Castellana Hog Raisers Association (Lacashora), along with other participating associations, is already included in the list of those who will avail of the packaging and labeling assistance from DOST.

The association produces frozen meat products like ham, embutido, chorizo, siomai, and tocino, among others.

Anthony Angeles, president of Lacashora, said the packaging and labeling support from the agency is really a big help for small food processors in the municipality.

Angeles said that product development, particularly improved design and within safety standards produce, has been one of the major challenges of the group.

“We cannot implement it without the support of the government,” he said, adding that DOST’s program will equip them in improving their business operations by efficiently marketing their products.

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