The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) on Thursday inaugurated Thursday the first-ever Mobile Plant Food Safety Laboratory that will help ensure that food consumed by Filipinos are clean and safe.
The P20-million mobile lab has a modular set-up that could accommodate rapid screening and testing for pesticide residue, heavy metals and microbiological contaminants from 20 to 30 samples per day at an affordable cost.
Additional instruments can also be added, interchanged, or upgraded to accommodate priority hazards in plant foods. The flexibility and mobility of the lab makes it possible for immediate and tailored response to ensure food safety and stakeholders needs.
“This laboratory-on-wheels brings the tools of food safety directly to our agricultural communities, enabling proactive monitoring and immediate intervention. Its mobility ensures flexibility and accessibility, allowing us to reach even the most remote areas and respond promptly to emerging crises,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said as BPI unveiled the mobile lab and testing unit.
“As we continuously work towards a safer and more resilient agriculture sector, let us not lose sight of the fundamental principle that food safety is not just a task for our government agencies; it is everybody’s responsibility,” he added.
The agri chief said the DA is committed to ensure that food consumed by Filipinos is safe. He is also open to adopting new ideas and technology in pursuit of that goal.
The inauguration was witnessed by Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture and food; BPI director Gerald Glenn Panganiban; Ruel Gesmundo, OIC-assistant director for Regulatory Services; and William Mugot, chief of the Plant Product Safety Services Division.
