CCCI to launch consultancy group, Chamber urges local food firms to step up

CEBU, Philippines - The food business is seen to be one of the most vulnerable sectors in an integrated economy of Asean nations.

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry said local food companies in the region have to improve their food safety and quality standards to be able to sell their products in other markets.

May Ybañez, executive director of CCCI, said having good safety standards in food production is one factor to measure the competitiveness of food enterprises.

The chamber is set to launch the “Cebu Food Consultancy Group” on October 4 at the J Center Mall. A group of experts will teach local food companies in Cebu and Negros on how to increase their competitiveness as a way to prepare for the economic integration in 2015.

The CCCI, AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation and the Department of Science and Technology started the so-called “Optimizing and Upscaling Roles in the FOOD Supply Chain” (OURFood) project to help micro, small and medium enterprises increase the market value of their goods.

Part of the project is the Processed Food: Food Safety program which would teach food entrepreneurs the importance of complying production safety measures in the ever changing food industry.

The official noted that although several food establishments already know the importance of complying best measures, some of them still don’t realize the need to apply safety standards.

Ybañez said the Cebu Food Safety Team has experts from the government and non-government sectors who teach the best practices to food industry players.

To expand operations, the CCCI has decided to create the Cebu Food Consultancy Group which would help the food service industry and supply chain become stronger through the help of other consulting groups in the country.

The group is composed of trained food safety experts from the Department of Health – Food and Drug Administration, Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Meat Inspection Service, Cebu City Health Department, University of San Carlos – Main and South Campus, University of Cebu – Maritime Education and Training Center, Virginia Foods, Incorporated, Julies Franchise Corporation and the Department of Science and Technology.

Ybañez has also urged food enterprises especially those members of the chamber to learn in the chamber's consultancy services.  — (FREEMAN)