ALABEL, Sarangani (March 1, 2015) - The Department of Trade and Industry – Sarangani provincial office has presented its enhanced business development program called the Integrated Product and Market Development Project (i-PMDP) to local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) engaged in processed food cluster.
The processed food cluster is one of the prioritized subsectors under DTI’s industry clustering strategy.
The goal of i-PMDP, presented by DTI provincial director Engr. Nenita Barroso on February 25, is to increase and sustain the supply of exportable-quality processed products of the province by identifying and harmonizing a common product and market development intervention/assistance between diverse sectors of the processed food industry.
This time, the project is one of the provincial initiatives of DTI to help local entrepreneurs prepare for the ASEAN integration. This move to regional economic cooperation will largely benefit the entrepreneurs of Sarangani placed in a strategic area near to Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, among others.
As Sarangani processed food products have so much potential in the ASEAN Market, national standards for food preparation, handling and manufacturing are necessary requirements before exportation. Through this concept, DTI aims to prepare the local entrepreneurs position themselves and their businesses to move up to the stages/levels of development (Export-Pathways), Engr. Barroso said as she presented the project to the participants.
One of the strategies of the project is to refer the submitted products of project enrollees to a certified food technologist for business and product diagnosis and capacity training.
Submission for nutrient fact study to Food and Nutrient Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology and preparation to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) New Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) for FDA-LTO (Licensed-to-operate) accreditation are also part of the project activities.
The project has a five-stage phases that will run for six months (February to July) where project enrollees will begin on-boarding until they graduate from the program.
Abigail May Garcia, a certified food technologist, graced the event by encouraging the local food processors to proactively participate in the program. She would provide a one-on-one consultancy session to every association.
The next step after this orientation program is the signing of Memorandum of Understanding on March 9 with the 15 pre-assessed MSME. (DTI for SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
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