DTI Region 2 OIC Regional Director Ruben B. Diciano (5th from left), together with SGS Philippines Inc. Business Manager Jose Decolongon, awards the certificate of completion to Ms. Jesusa Uy of the Oneasia Trader in Solana, Nueva Vizcaya. Also in photo were DTI 2 Provincial Directors of the Provincial Directors of Nueva Vizcaya, Mr. Henry O. Conel, Jr., (left), Isabela, Ms. Ma. Salvacion A. Castillejos (2nd from left), Cagayan, Engr. Bernardino G. Mabborang (6th from left), Quirino, Ms Ma. Sofia G. Narag (7th from left), and Batanes, Ms. Marietta B. Salviejo (rear right). Special award was given by SGS Philippines, Inc. to Oneasia Trader as the Most Improved enterprise.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 2 in partnership with SGS Philippines Inc. conducted the installation of Philippine Traceability (PTrace) System to six (6) pilot MSMEs in the region.
The pilot MSMEs were conferred with certificates of completion for successfully integrating the PTrace System in their business operations by establishing and maintaining records and documents in all the stages of production, processing, and distribution of their food products.
Pilot beneficiaries were Lighthouse Cooperative, CEC Food Ventures, JBM Food Products, RLGV Fruit Wines, Oneasia Trader, and MGSK. Pilot MSMEs were also given Quality Manuals.
Special awards were also given by SGS Philippines, Inc. to Lighthouse Cooperative for being the Most Compliant pilot firm while Oneasia Trader was awarded as the Most Improved enterprise.
DTI 2 OIC Regional Director emphasized that installing the PTRACE System will strengthen the position of MSMEs as suppliers of safe, quality, and traceable food products. It will help MSMEs in identifying the loopholes of their production and will increase the efficiency of their business operation. He encouraged the MSMEs to make it as a culture, scale-up by introducing enhancements if needed and nurture it through hard work.
“If you have conquered the difficult parts of this project through hard work, I believe that sustaining it will just be a matter of passion and dedication,” he added.
Alongside with the event, an unveiling of the SGS KAAGAPAY Store which is based in Makati City was also launched at the Regional Negosyo Center. The store is the compilation of all the products of the firms graduated from the project.
In attendance during the graduation ceremony were DTI 2 OIC Regional Director Ruben B. Diciano, SGS Philippines Inc. Business Manager Jose Decolongon, DTI 2 Provincial Directors, DTI 2 Regional Division Chiefs, SGS personnel, Region 2 MSMEs, and some DTI personnel.
In September 19-22 2016, the SGS Philippines Inc. conducted the PTrace awareness session to chosen beneficiaries. A gap audit and the development of Traceability System were also implemented wherein pilot MSMEs started using traceability forms in their processes.
An interim visit was also conducted last January 26-27, 2017 and found out that the entire pilot MSMEs already grasped idea of traceability. In March 6-8, 2017, a final visit was scheduled and a successful mock recall was conducted.
DTI 2 Institutional Division Chief Mary Ann Dy, together with Ms. Ragel D. Tacazon, spearheaded the preparatory activities, planning, coordination, and implementation of the project.
DTI Region 2 is the first DTI regional office installed traceability system for MSMEs.