Home kitchen law pushed

ALLOWING operations and sale of food products by micro-scale home kitchen entrepreneurs in the city of Baguio is being pushed.

In a proposed ordinance by Councilor Leandro Yangot, home based businesses may soon be made legal under existing law, individuals can sell food through retail food facilities or outlets.

“This option makes it difficult for the vast majority of traditional home cooks to indepenBAGUIO

dently benefit from their limited capital, labor, and skills, thus, many food micro-entrepreneurs cook out of private homes or unlicensed food facilities, and unable to legally participate in the locally prepared food economy and to earn an income legally,” Yangot said.

Yangot added the city is fast becoming the home of “farmto-plate” movement, which embraces the idea that restaurants and other food sellers should prioritize locally and sustainably produced foods. Accordingly, local and foreign visitors of Baguio have shown a preference for supporting local agriculture and for finding sustainable solutions to food insecurity.

“Micro-scale, home-cooking operations can create significant economic opportunities for Baguio residents that need them most – often women, indigenous tribes, solo parents, disabled and several Alternative Learning System graduates,” he added.

Measures for application and registration have been stipulated in the proposed law stating micro-scale home kitchen operation shall not be open for business unless it has obtained a special permit issued from the City Government of Baguio and will be non-transferable.

The operator of a micro-scale home kitchen operation must successfully pass an approved and accredited food safety certification examination.

If the law is passed, the applicant must submit a written standard operating procedure that includes all of the following information; all food types or products that will be handled during operation hours; the procedures, methods of food preparation and handling and how food will be maintained at the required.

Under the Yangot law, the City Treasury Office in coordination with the City Health Services Office and other necessary government offices shall formulate the guidelines for its implementation in accordance with the established criteria and procedure.

The ordinance passed its initial reading during last Monday’s regular session.