BUTUAN CITY - Fifteen solo parents in this city attended the Seminar on Meat Processing and Food Safety for the Solo Parents at the Balanghai Hotel & Convention Center on October 26-27, 2021.

Jennifer J. Dejarme, Senior Science Research Specialist of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga and a member of the Caraga Food Safety Team (CFST), was the resource person on the topic Good Manufacturing Practices.

She reminded the participants that it is the food handler’s responsibility to produce food that is safe for human consumption. She also emphasized the importance of personal hygiene and handwashing as one of the best way to prevent food contamination and fight COVID-19.

Emee D. Lopez, a food processor and owner of Meng’s Food & Mixes was the resource person on Meat Processing Technique. She demonstrated the proper techniques, ingredients needed and the step-by-step procedure on meat processing. The products made were Siomai, Embutido and Skinless Longganisa.

During the closing program, participants extended their deepest appreciations to the Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center 13 (ATI-RTC 13) as well as to the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Butuan City. According to them, the activity will be a great help to solo parents like them because it will be an avenue for them to earn extra income especially during the pandemic. They also have committed to share the skills and knowledge they have gained from the activity to their respective areas. The participants were able to receive the certificate of completion and starter kits from ATI-RTC 13. The kits included kitchen utensils like knife, chopping board, ladle, mixing bowls, measuring cup and measuring spoon. In response, the Project Officer in the person of Paula Mae A. Creencia thanked the participants as well as the entities who had helped in making the activity a successful one.