CFOS-IFPT organizes training for Iloilo fishers on product packaging, labeling and entrepreneurship

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The Institute of Fish Processing Technology, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, (CFOS-IFPT) UP Visayas organized the “Training-workshop on Packaging and Labeling of Priority Products and Introduction to Basic Entrepreneurship” for fisherfolk from Ajuy and Concepcion, Iloilo, last August 31 to September 1, 2022, held at Brgy. Mangorocoro, Ajuy, Iloilo.

Conducted in collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Office VI and the local government unit of Ajuy, Iloilo, the two-day activity was participated by 36 members of Nasidman Small Fisherfolk Association (NASFA), Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC), and fisherfolk from Ajuy and Baskal Operators in Lo-ong Association (BOLA) with members of Concepcion LGU.

The fisherfolk are engaged in the processing of sardines, squid, and blue swimming crab wastes, among others.

The public service undertaking was aimed to equip the participants with knowledge of the basic concepts of packaging and the labeling requirements prescribed by regulatory agencies in the country as well as how to choose the appropriate packaging material and label for their products.

It also sought to give the fisherfolk entrepreneurial skills to develop marketing plans for their products.

To achieve the goals of the training, experts in product packaging and labeling from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Office VI and business management from the College of Management, UP Visayas (UPV-CM) were tapped to give lectures and workshops.

Ms. Janene Denila, DOST-6 project assistant, talked about the basic concepts of packaging and labeling, while Mr. Jan Renzel Tengco, DOST-6 project technical staff, gave a lecture on the mandatory labeling requirements in the Philippines on the first day of the training.

The lectures were followed by two workshop activities, 1) the creation of the packaging designs and specifying the labeling components for their respective products; and 2) the egg drop challenge, where participants designed a package structured to protect an egg from breaking when dropped at certain heights, using materials such as corrugated board and paper.

Asst. Prof. Frediezel De Leon and Ms. Mary Ann Sedero, faculty members from UPV-CM, joined the participants on the second day.

De Leon discussed basic entrepreneurship while Sedero facilitated the workshop to teach the fisherfolk how to assess their personal entrepreneurial competencies (PEC) and to prepare and present simple business plans for their products.

The organizing team was composed of Grace Palmos, Asst. Prof. Lhumen Tejano, Rosana Alama and Karmeli Jane Monaya. (Ms. Karmelie Jane M. Monaya and Ms. Lenilyn B. Gallos, CFOS)