ILOILO CITY – The University of the Philippines Visayas unveiled a food safety manual titled “Food Safety and Community: A Practical Guide to Food Safety for Food Service” on Friday, May 23.
THE multi-disciplinary team of UP Visayas during the May 23, 2025 public unveiling of its participatory food safety manual in Iloilo City. (Tara Yap)
The participatory food safety manual is not only a technical guidebook but also an applicable tool designed mainly for small-scale and medium-scale food enterprises in the city and province of Iloilo.
Dr. Johannes M. Magpusao, dean of the School of Technology (SOTECH) and project team leader, said the manual was created in a manner that can be easily understood by street vendors and carinderia (small restaurant) owners.
The manual that tackles personal hygiene, cleaning and sanitation, and process control was written in English and Hiligaynon by a multi-disciplinary team of UP Visayas, which offers a Bachelor of Science in Food Technology program.
The team behind the food safety manual is also composed of former SOTECH Dean Prof. Emiliza C. Lozada, Dr. Jihan Santiago-Alumbro, Dr. Jade G. Pahila, Dr. Alicia Tan-Gonzales, Assistant Prof. Eliodora L. Dimzon, Assistant Prof. Lhumen A. Tejano, Jose Marie A. Eslopor, John Ray M. Molavin, Phoebe Claire P. Soroño, and Janreich F. Miramon.
Kristoffer T. Panes illustrated the manual.
The food safety manual is one of the university’s contributions following the declaration of Iloilo City as a Creative City of Gastronomy by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
UP Visayas Chancellor Dr. Clement Camposano said the manual was created in collaboration with local government units and various food enterprises in Iloilo City, Oton, and Dumangas.
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE) funded the project and the manual’s first printing.
The team is seeking other partners to fund the reprinting of the food safety manual for distribution in other parts of Iloilo and Western Visayas region.