Tagbilaran City, Bohol – In a significant stride to strengthen the food safety infrastructure in the province of Bohol, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., and AFOS Foundation begin its Training of Trainers (ToT) Program to recreate the Bohol Food Safety Team (BFST), first initiated in 2008. The first session kicked off on March 1, 2024, with the second following on March 6, 2024. The training is being held at the DOST Bohol Provincial S&T Office in Tagbilaran City.

The Training of Trainers aspires to capacitate ten (10) food safety experts from universities, government agencies, and industry partners, who will collaborate to develop training modules on food safety standards, provide training on food safety practices, and soon serve as technical advisory to ensure compliance in various establishments in the province. Following the training framework, the trainees meet weekly for 19 training sessions, and upon completion and required examinations and assessment, experts will be fully-fledged members of the Bohol Food Safety Team, whose services be lodged at the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Through the Training of Trainers program, experts will undergo various aspects of food safety, including Basic Food Hygiene, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), and Food Safety Management System (FSMS). The intensive training is design to further enhance skills and knowledge in ensuring compliance with food safety standards through the mentorship of DOST-VII food safety experts.

Noteworthy trainees from various sectors were enrolled into the program. These included representatives from Training experts from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Bohol PSTO, Bohol Island State University (BISU), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), University of Bohol (UB), Holy Name University (HNU), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Tagbilaran City Health Office (TCHO), Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), and Provincial Health Office (PHO).Ultimately, the institutionalization of the Bohol Food Safety Training Services in BCCI aims to improve the quality of the local food industry of the province including products form partner fisherfolk associations, support MSMEs, elevate tourism and further improve the economic growth and sustainability of Bohol.

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The Training of Trainers Program for the recreation of the Bohol Food Safety Team aims to achieve Result Areas 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4. of the FISH Visayas Project.