Virtual meeting screenshot from the DTI Food Connect Program launch, displaying numerous participants like MSMEs and DTI officials from MIMAROPA and PTTC in a grid view. DTI branding is visible in several participants' backgrounds.

Makati City, Philippines—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has launched the 2025 iteration of the Food Connect Program to capacitate more entrepreneurs in securing the License to Operate (LTO) and Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Facilitated by the DTI MIMAROPA, in collaboration with the DTI Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), the program is a specialized training package of the DTI-PTTC. It helps micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) functioning as food business operators in complying with mandatory FDA regulatory requirements. The program comprises two courses: Course 1, focusing on FDA-LTO registration, and Course 2, focusing on FDA-CPR registration.

For the 2025 program, a total of 28 MSMEs have registered for Course 1, which began on March 31. The virtual opening of Course 1 was attended by DTI MIMAROPA Regional Director EnP. Amormio CJS Benter, CESE, DTI-PTTC Officer-in-Charge Fe Avila, participating MSMEs, and other representatives from the DTI MIMAROPA and PTTC.

Course 1, scheduled in the first week of May, consists of three tracks:

  • Track 1: Awareness of food safety, current good manufacturing practice, and FDA-LTO documentary requirements;
  • Track 2: Documentation and establishment of safety and quality management systems, good manufacturing practices, and sanitation standard operating procedures; and
  • Track 3: Compliance with FDA-LTO documentation, food labeling regulations, and food recall.

Meanwhile, Course 2 has 25 enrolled MSMEs and is scheduled from May 13 to 16. This course focuses on shelf-life determination, product and process standardization, and compliance with FDA-CPR documentary requirements.

Each track within both courses includes one-on-one consultations, product testing and interpretation, and mentoring sessions.

The Food Connect Program aligns with several United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1: End poverty, SDG 2: End hunger, SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, and SDG 12: Sustainable consumption and production.

During his welcoming remarks, Regional Director Benter emphasized the DTI MIMAROPA’s commitment to supporting One Town, One Product Program-assisted MSMEs. He emphasized the importance of building stronger food safety systems to enable these businesses to compete more effectively in the market.

Since its last implementation in 2023, the regional rollout of the Food Connect Program has already helped five MSMEs secure their FDA-LTO and aided two others in obtaining FDA-CPR for their products. ♦

Date of Release: 03 April 2025

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