Producing quality dried fish involves more than traditional drying methods. It requires proper sanitation, safe handling, standardized procedures, and careful control throughout the processing chain to ensure that products are safe, consistent, and ready for wider markets.
To strengthen these practices among local processors, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Capiz, in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Visayas-College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (UPV-CFOS) and the Capiz Provincial Government-Provincial Agriculturist Office (CPG-OPA), conducted the training-workshop titled “Improving Drying Protocols for Safer, Higher-Quality Dried Fish: A GMP-Focused Training-Workshop” at DOST Capiz Training Room, Roxas City, Capiz.
The activity brought together fish-drying operators, business owners, local government personnel, and other industry stakeholders seeking to improve the safety, quality, and marketability of their products. Dr. Rhoda Mae C. Simora, Director of the UPV-CFOS Institute of Fish Processing Technology, and Ms. Juafe M. Abareles, Provincial Director of DOST Capiz, welcomed the participants, resource speakers, and facilitators during the opening program.
During the technical sessions, Ms. Rose T. Mueda, University Researcher II of UPV-CFOS discussed the current state of the dried fish industry, consumer preferences, market trends, and the importance of proper packaging, labeling, and compliance with market requirements to improve product competitiveness and market access. UPV CFOS Asst. Prof. Lhumen A. Tejano highlighted food safety requirements for pre-packaged dried fish products, including the biological, chemical, and physical hazards that may affect product safety, as well as proper handling and contamination prevention. Meanwhile, Ms. Audrey Mae V. Orillaza, Instructor III of UPV-CFOS, focused on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in dried fish processing, emphasizing personal hygiene, sanitation, facility maintenance, proper drying, storage, packaging, and quality control to ensure the consistent production of safe and high-quality products.
The participants applied what they had learned through a workshop on developing action plans that integrate GMP-based drying protocols. The workshop required the participants to prepare process flow diagrams, identify potential hazards, and propose practical improvements for their respective operations. The participants received constructive feedback and recommendations from the facilitators to further improve their proposed action plans.
Ms. Cleofe F. Albason, a fish-drying operator and member of the Cogon Fish Dryer’s Association, said, “Dira namon nabal-an ang ginatawag nga GMP nga indi lang basta-basta nga negosyante ka lang, okay na. Gali may procedure, may processing, kag may ginatawag nga pamaagi. Madamo gid nga salamat sa DOST kay na-learn man namon ang mga techniques.” [Through this, we learned about GMP, which means that being a business owner is not just about operating casually. There are procedures, processes, and proper methods that must be followed. We are very thankful to DOST because we also learned many techniques.]
Mr. Vincent Fernandez of the CPG-OPA also shared, “This training has enhanced the knowledge and skills of our Fish Drying Operators in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and improved drying protocols, contributing to the production of safer, higher-quality dried fish.”
Overall, the training equipped participants with valuable knowledge and practical skills in Good Manufacturing Practices and improved drying protocols, helping strengthen efforts toward producing safer, higher-quality, and more market-ready dried fish products in Capiz. (VDGAlinsog/DOST Capiz; Photos by: LNGGebauer, VDGAlinsog/DOST Capiz)
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 (𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛) 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴, 𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚&𝘛 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵—𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰.
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