Odyssey Foundation, Inc. in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Batangas and St. Bridget College – Batangas, capacitated 20 marginalized mothers on food safety in preparation for livelihood establishment among their individual communities in Batangas City, Nov. 22.
The capacity building was conducted at St. Bridget College, M. H. Del Pilar St., Batangas City, with DOST-CALABARZON Food Safety Team (FST) members, Mr. Mhark Ellgine A. Libao, Mr. John Maico M. Hernandez, Ms. Renalee M. Leyesa, and Mr. Romel C. Quinay, as resource speakers.
The capacity-building session covered topics such as Basic Food Hygiene (BFH) and Food Safety Hazards (FSH), aiming to instill best practices and ensure the compliance of the beneficiaries with food safety standards.
The BFH session covered a spectrum of topics, including sanitary permits, health certificates, quality and protection of food, primary production, establishment design, training and competence, maintenance, cleaning and disinfection, pest control, personal hygiene, operational control, product information, consumer awareness, and the special provisions of P.D. 856.
The FSH component delved into categories of food hazards—physical, biological, and chemical—and explored their implications for food processing. Beneficiaries gained insights into control mechanisms to mitigate food safety risks, emphasizing proper food handling and servicing operations mandated by law. The session also highlighted the crucial role of beneficiaries in preventing foodborne diseases through their adherence to established guidelines.
The activity was a component of Odyssey Foundation, Inc.’s “Bigtime Kasosyo sa Negosyo” project, a livelihood development strategy that aims to improve the socioeconomic well-being of the marginalized beneficiaries. Through the project, marginalized mothers will be given an individual food cart livelihood assistance that will help them establish their own small food businesses. The package will include tools, equipment, and products. DOST-Batangas, on the other hand, will provide the personal protective equipment for the beneficiaries.
Odyssey Foundation, Inc., DOST-Batangas, and St. Bridget College-Batangas aim to make a positive and lasting impact on marginalized women beneficiaries through the project. The collaboration not only supports these women in establishing businesses but also contributes to building a safer and healthier local food industry. The official turnover ceremony of the food cart livelihood assistance project is set to take place in December.#
