BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – A food village will soon be established in the Caraga Region.

It was learned that the “village” will basically house common service food processing facilities that are compliant to the requirements of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).

This is a shared need among local food processors who find it difficult to pass BFAD's licensing requirements due to the high investment needed to put the right facilities individually.

It was also learned that this project is being pushed by the Caraga Regional Association of Traders and Entrepreneurs in Food or CReATE Food, an organization of food processors in the region.

The project is fully supported by the WE CAN (Working on the Enhancement of the Chamber and Association Network) in Visayas and Caraga, and the AFOS Foundation.

AFOS Foundation is the implementing arm of the Federation of Catholic Entrepreneurs (BKU) which was appointed by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to implement the chamber and association development project which will run from August 2009 to July 2012 here in the region.

According to Dr. Stephan Kunz of WE CAN and AFOS, and project team member Teri Pono of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CReATE Food as a partner-recipient of the project will enjoy training and capability-building opportunities, consultancy services and funds for the establishment of their food village.

In addition, Roderico Cane, CReATE Food president, is scheduled for a six-month training and exposure to food processing industries in Germany.

Other project partners who committed support to the project are the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

DoST committed to provide a grant for the facility’s equipment, laboratory services for the nutritional facts assessment, training on food safety, consultancy services and packaging and labeling design assistance, and possibly negotiate a 3,000-square meter area at the Caraga State University campus.

While TESDA’s support would include re-skilling or up skilling training and capability building of the members of the organization, provision of certified skilled manpower through their qualified tech-voc graduates, members of the maintenance team for its ancillary services (plumbers, welders, electricians, air-con/cold storage technicians) and skilled manpower during the construction stage of the proposed village.