LIPA CITY, Batangas – The city government, in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), culminated on Friday its two-day “TIKME” or “Teknolohiya at Inobasyon, Kaagapay ng Micro Enterprises” food expo featuring Batangueño-inspired food products of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at the Lipa City Hall.
The food exhibition, seminars and displays held July 26-27 were among the highlights of the provincial celebration of the National Science and Technology Week 2018 observance in a bid to provide promotional platform for Science & Technology products of Batangas MSMEs and revolutionize traditional food expos by highlighting homegrown entrepreneurs given DOST assistance and technology.
DOST Calabarzon Regional Director, Dr. Alexander Madrigal, along with Lipa City Mayor Meynard Sabili led the opening rites Thursday which featured the feast of Batangueño S&T products and seminars on food safety, packaging and labeling for the benefit of the Batangueño Food Producers.
“Layunin ng programang ito na itaas ang antas ng produktong Batangueño, upang mas mapaunlad ang inyong negosyo o hanapbuhay at pangangalakal (The objective of this program is to level up the Bantangueño products to boost your business, livelihood and trade),” Madrigal said.
He added that the Batangas celebratory theme focused on food products which are produced in the industry and at home, safe food, free from any contamination, scale up the quality, boost its marketability and at par with world standards.
“Layunin din ng TIKME na hikayatin pa ang iba nating kababayan dito sa buong lalawigan ng Batangas, sapagkat kaunti pa rin po ang antas ng ating pag-ulad sa larangan ng poverty level. Isang sagot diyan ay trabaho, para mabawasan ang nahihirapan, kung saan makakatulong ang mga Micro Small Medium Enterprises (TIKME’s objective is also to lure other Batangueño entrepreneurs to contribute to development and lower the poverty level. The answer to that is job and livelihood to curb poverty where the MSMEs could alleviate),” Madrigal said.
After the opening program, a Food Safety Seminar was conducted to provide food producers awareness on basic food hygiene and current good manufacturing practices.
The two-day event culminated with a seminar on Packaging and Labeling Requirements for Food Products to help food producers gain knowledge on and adherence to the protocol on making package and label designs based on international standards.
“To the organizers, “TIKME” humanizes through the Batangueño dialect and conversation which literally means “to taste” as a variation from the Tagalog term “tikiman/tikman,” John Maico Hernandez, DOST Provincial S&T Center (PSTC) information officer said.
He said the food expo event engaged guests, visitors, entrepreneurs and the viewing public to a “tikiman” (free taste) of S&T products as a compelling experience to lure prospective buyers.
MSME exhibitors and producers showcased their food products — all describing their distinct Batangas taste and pride like a feast on S&T products including an hour-long consultation session during the conduct of the seminars. (Maroe T. Genosa/PNA)
