DA Assistant Secretary Hansel Didulo underscores the importance of advocating food safety among government workers and personnel of the Department. (photo by Daniel Nilo)
DILIMAN, Quezon City—As part of the Food Safety Core Group of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) took part in the observance of Food Safety Awareness Week to further create public awareness on food safety standards.
This was also pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 160, series of 1999 declaring the last week of October every year as Food Safety Awareness Week.
During the opening program, DA Secretary William Dar stressed the need for developmental food safety measures.
“Food safety is a cross-cutting major concern in ensuring food and nutrition for every Filipino,” he said. He added that concerned agencies should ensure that the implementation measures aim to strengthen the development process in agriculture.
Meanwhile, DA Assistant Secretary for Regulations and the Visayas Atty. Hansel Didulo led the presentation of the Food Safety Strategic Plan for 2019-2023 to the Secretary,
Representatives from different DA offices, attached agencies and bureaus, and other food safety regulatory agencies attended the opening festivities of the Food Safety Awareness Week celebration. A seminar was also held, which focused on food safety standards on selected agricultural products, such as Milk Safety Measures and Antimicrobial Resistance, meat safety, and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
During the seminar, DA Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rodolfo Vicerra encouraged the concerned agencies to continue creating a more food safety-informed public.
“Our vision is to have a more active and widespread implementation of the Food Safety Act,” he said, adding that creating an agency devoted to food safety interventions may be needed.
Meanwhile, as he spoke to the men and women of DA, Assistant Secretary Didulo stressed, “As government workers and as the main agency working for food security, it is important to be aware of the importance of food safety.”
Highlights of the event also include forums and exhibits on food safety-related information. With the theme “Para sa Masaganang ANI at Mataas na KITA: Tiyaking Malinis at Ligtas ang Pagkain,” the celebration was held last October 21-25 in this city.