Calatagan parents, Child Development Workers trained on food safety for feeding programs

 Calatagan parents, Child Development Workers trained on food safety for feeding programs

By John Maico M. Hernandez

To strengthen the safety of meals served to young children, the Local Government Unit of Calatagan through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Batangas, trained Child Development Workers and parents who prepare meals for Child Development Center feeding programs on basic food hygiene and food safety hazards, July 21, 2026.

The training was conducted in two separate sessions for participants from all barangays of Calatagan held at the National Child Development Center in Barangay Gulod and Pagsasarili Early Childhood Care and Development Center in Poblacion, Calatagan, Batangas, as part of the municipality’s Nutrition Month celebration.

The activity aimed to equip participants with science-based knowledge and practical food safety practices that can be applied in preparing, handling, and serving meals for children under the Child Development Center feeding program. The participants included Child Development Workers and parents, including some beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The Basic Food Hygiene module discussed essential food safety practices, including sanitary permits and health certificates, food quality and protection, primary production, and the proper design and maintenance of food preparation facilities and equipment. Participants also learned about personnel competence, establishment maintenance, cleaning and disinfection procedures, pest control, personal hygiene, operational controls, consumer awareness, and the key provisions of Presidential Decree No. 856, which prescribes sanitary standards for food establishments and food handlers.

The Food Safety Hazards module focused on identifying, preventing, and controlling physical, biological, and chemical hazards that may compromise food safety. Participants were guided on practical measures to minimize contamination risks and prevent foodborne illnesses through proper food preparation, handling, storage, and serving practices.

Members of the DOST-Batangas Food Safety Team, Mr. John Maico M. Hernandez, Ms. Renalee L. Reyes, and Ms. Anna Marie M. Marasigan, facilitated the training. The team emphasized the importance of proper food safety practices in ensuring that meals provided through child feeding programs are safe, nutritious, and beneficial to children’s growth and development.