THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Visayas upholds food safety caravan in Iloilo City on August 29.
With the theme entitled “Sapat na Kaalaman sa Ligtas na Pagkain: Kalusugan at Kaligtasan ay Tiyakin, Bawat Araw Gawing Adhikain,” the program aims to raise awareness of the Republic Act 10611 also known as the Food Safety Act of 2013.
The caravan was headed by the DA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Regulations and the Visayas.
According to DA assistant secretary for Visayas Hansel Didulo in an interview with the media at the Madison Hotel on August 29, the law is about three years old and they are now going around the country to promote it.
“What we have now is the food safety caravan. The main purpose of this is information dissemination because a lot of our people, wala sila kabalo what is Food Safety Act so gina explain namon sa ila (we explain it to them) to all stake holders here in the city of Iloilo,” Didulo said.
Government agencies like National Food Authority, City Veterinarian’s Office, Philippine Coconut Authority and also the market vendors attended the caravan.
Didulo explained that the food safety act’s objectives is to provide and ensure safe food to the people.
“It covers what we call From Farm to Fork which means from production, handling, selling and preparation of the food up to the table, it is covered by food safety,” he added.
The implementation of the food safety act is a shared responsibility of a various government agencies.
Didulo points out that the DA is in charge of monitoring the primary production, Department of Health for the processed foods and local government units is tasked for the sanitation of the restaurants, schools, canteens and other food establishments.
The act provides sanctions for those who will disobey the law especially those who will be apprehended selling “adulterated or unsafe foods.” (Carolyn Jane Abello)