STA. TERESITA, CAGAYAN — Through the DTI Region 2-Food Development Program, a consultation meeting and site visit at Dataj Aquafarm Inc. in Sta. Teresita, Cagayan, were held on February 10 to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the necessary documents to prepare the company for its Halal Certification.

Dataj Aquafarm is one of the leading shrimp producers in the Philippines and is known for its commercial production of Penaeus Vannamei shrimp, or white-leg shrimp.

During the visit, the agency identified the necessary interventions for the certification of Dataj and recommended possible courses of action in preparation for its Halal Audit. The agency also conducted a site inspection where food safety, personal hygiene, and sanitation were observed.

The DTI officers also witnessed the processing of the goods, including the soaking of shrimp and packaging, as well as the usage of their processing machines. The discussion also covered links to market matching, investment connections, and export facilitation.

DTI R2 has incessantly assisted the company in its preliminary steps for the export venture of the company, such as the securing of quality certifications for its fresh and cooked shrimp, License to Operate, BOI registration, Certificate of Product Registration (CPR), and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) applications through the assistance of BFAR Region 2, and its ongoing Halal Certification, which is scheduled for February 21 and 22, this year.

Present during the visit were DTI R2 officers, namely STIDS Ragel D. Tacazon, Ms. Jessa Mae Babaran of the DTI R2 Cagayan Provincial Office, Engr. Genie Cacananta, Facility Engr., and the Dataj Aquarium Inc. HACCP Team. *

Date of release: 14 February 2023