The Responsible Sourcing from Smallholders (RSS) Program under the Sugar Industry Foundation, Inc. (SIFI) conducted the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Training of Trainors at the SRA-La Granja Agricultural Research and Extension Center in La Carlota City.
Months after the first meeting of the PPE Technical Working Group, around 50 Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Visayas Personnel participated in the training. The event was held to familiarize the PPE innovations and safety features.
In photo: Judy Ann Gonzaga, SIFI-RSS Technical Consultant, explaining the history and background of PPE for sugar farm workers.
Judy Ann Gonzaga, Technical Consultant of the SIFI-RSS discussed the history and background of PPE for sugar farm workers. She explained how the project was developed under the RSS Integrated ARBO Child Labor and PPE (IACAP) Program. Orland Solis, SIFI-RSS Project Coordinator, alongside Theresa Katrina Etabag, Community Development Specialist, assisted in the training.
Rhoderick Samonte, Researcher and Director for Internationalization and External Relations of Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU), presented the research findings and recommendations on the use of PPE, innovations, and safety features. CHMSU is one of SIFI’s partner in producing the sugar farm workers’ PPE Apparel alongside local suppliers – this creates additional skills and opportunities for ARBOs that joined the manufacturing of PPEs.
Demonstration of PPE Apparel for manual harvest.
Positive responses were expressed by the participants, including notable recommendations that could help in the improvement of the PPE.
SRA Chief Agriculturist Ma. Lourdes Almodiente shared in her message that she was delighted by the additional knowledge provided to their personnel. She hopes that the participants will be able to share the inputs to their farmers, especially that farmers are most frequently exposed to the use of pesticides, herbicides, and other hazardous chemicals.
This training was made possible through the assistance of Dee Arr Paglumotan, SRA Training Specialist VI.
– Report from Theresa Katrina Etabag, SIFI-RSS Community Development Specialist
