Group to improve Cebu’s food sector formed
Private and public organizations have created a consultancy group that will ensure Cebu’s food sector can fare well and can maximize opportunities brought about by the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
The Cebu Food Consultancy Group (CFCG) was formed after Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) partnered with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Afos Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation.
The Asean integration presents a lot of opportunities and the group wants to be active in helping push for a stronger food industry in Cebu and in the country, said Ma. Teresa Chan, CCCI president, during the launching last Saturday of the CFCG at the J Center Cebu.
Chan also said Cebu being the center of commerce in the Visayas has taken up the challenge to build a strong food industry and food supply chain.
She was referring to the consultancy group which will be made up of experts who will establish a certain standard for the food sector in Cebu that will be acceptable worldwide.
Dietmar Speckmaier of Afos Foundation said the CFCG will be under the OURFood project which is also a partnership of Afos, DOST, and the different business chambers in Cebu and Negros.
“OURFood stands for optimizing upscaling roles in the food supply chain. It was initiated to improve the income situation of the micro, small and medium enterprises in the food sector of Cebu and Negros,” said Speckmaier.
focus areas
Speckmaier said the project looks into two different areas which are production of high quality crops and the processed food production which the CFCG will be a great help.
“The food safety team shall take on the challenge of building a strong food processing and food service industry through partnerships not only within Cebu but also to other food consulting groups around the country,” said Speckmaier.
Chan who described the team as ngilngig said that the country “has arrived” and it is critical to be able to set up a mechanism that will further fuel this robust economic growth that the country has experienced and is expected to experience for at least 15 years more.
The CFCG food safety experts include Tristan L. Abando, Vina R. Antopia, Marichu D. Baclay, Josie F. Elli, Ethyle T. Iyog, John Jeremy B. Limon, Bryan B. Ybanez.
Most of them are members of the DOST food safety team.
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