Diadi, Solano, and Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya— In a significant stride towards promoting food safety and creating a safe working environment for market vendors and food processors, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 2 – Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Office led by Provincial Director Atty. Michael B. Paggabao launched Project SAFE (Strengthening Advocacy on Food safety Enhancement by providing personal protective equipment to micro and small enterprises) in the municipalities of Diadi, Solano, and Bayombong on 22-23 May 2024.
Through the said project which was implemented in collaboration with the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC), the agency is distributing PPE kits including coverall suits, gloves, masks, and rubberized aprons, among others.
For the first three batches, the agency distributed a total of 3,000 disposable aprons and 570 heavy-duty rubberized aprons to market vendors. These kits are designed to protect the vendors/ workers and ensure that food products meet minimum standards.
According to PD Paggabao, Project SAFE is not just about providing PPEs; it’s about instilling a culture of safety and responsibility among food vendors, producers, and processors as part of DTI’s commitment to supporting our entrepreneurs and ensuring a secured consumer sector.
Aside from the awarding activity, the team also conducted advocacy sessions on the Price Act and Price Tag Law, joined the meeting of LGU Diadi’s Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) to conduct a briefing session, and visited and checked the Timbangan ng Bayan, Consumer Welfare Assistance Centers, and Price Bulletin Boards of the said LGUs.
Also present during the said activities were CPD Chief Rowena F. Mayangat, TIDS Ronald Tuddao, Technical Assistant Jonalyn Tan, JBC Raymart Manzano, and JBC Christopher Tan of DTI NV; Hon. Wilma G. Concillo, Municipal Councilor of LGU Diadi; Market Inspector II Marcelina G. Supliano of LGU Solano; and Market Inspector Noli Bautista of LGU Bayombong.
This initiative is a timely response to the growing consumer demand for safer food products and the need for businesses to adapt to stringent safety regulations. In the next runs, aside from market vendors, the project will be implemented in food processing centers in the province. Stay tuned for more updates as Project SAFE continues to roll out across Nueva Vizcaya, ensuring that every bite is as safe as it is delicious. ♦
Date of release: 04 June 2024