DTI-11 targets DavOr hot chili enterprises FDA-registered

THE regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 11) targets to have all hot chili enterprises in Davao Oriental registered with the Food and Drug Admnistration (FDA) by the end of this month.

DTI 11 officer-in-charge Ma. Belenda Q. Ambi, in an interview with Sun.Star Davao, said they are working on the registration of Ayana’s Siling Kinamayo and El Tigre of M.A.M.A. Chili Trees Farmers Association.

She said five other enterprises are also currently working on their registration. These are Katumbaw Sili of the Food Processors Association of Taytayan, Subangon Dumang Makers, Edil’s Dumang Products, Delia’s Chili Products and another enterprise Bagangga, which has yet to name their brand.

Ambi said the FDA registration is the minimum requirement for enterprises to be able to use the Hot Pablo trademark, which has been recenlty approved by the Intellectual Property Office. At the same time, she also said they will be fine-tuning the product standards of different hot chili products.

DTI 11 will set up shared service facilities in Boston, Cateel, and Bagangga to boost and improve the quality of the hot chili products. SSFs that will be set up are equipment for grinding, drying, and packaging.

“We will be utilizing the funds from the Pablo Assistance Funds for these SSFs,” Ambi said.

She said the provincial government of Davao Oriental will be the cooperator of the SSF’s in Boston and Cateel while the local government unit of Baganga will be the cooperator of the SSF in their municipality.

“The co-operators will be the ones providing the location where in the SSFs will be housed,” Ambi said.