PRC/PRB Meeting Inspection to CDO Foodsphere Inc with PIChE CAMANAVA – PIChE CAMANAVA Chapter

Orlando Jr Tomol |

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In compliance to RA 8981 (The PRC Modernization Act of 2000) and Article 2 section 6 of RA 9297 (The Chemical Engineering Law of 2004), the PRC and PRB conducted site visits the CDO Foodsphere Inc. last Feb. 19, 2024 to exercise their function to supervise and regulate the practice of Chemical Engineering profession.

The team was composed of Hon. Cezar S. de la Cruz and Hon. Shirlyn Chua-Reyes of PRB, Ms. Gemma R. Ramos. Senior Professional Regulation Officer of PRC and representatives of PIChE CAMANAVA Chapter led by President Engr. Elisa C. Arriola, Auditor Engr. Carmen S. Policarpio, Adviser Engr. Teresita D. Balba and PRO Engr. Orlando J. Tomol Jr.

HR. Operations Section Manager Hiyasmin Y. Palanca accompanied the team, together with Engr. Joel Omaña, commenced the meeting by announcing that they regret to inform that no approval yet from their Board for plant operations inspection due to time constraints in the past few weeks from getting signatories of the owners and boss due to frequent travels leaving them with directions to constrict the meeting by presenting the company overview just like they did last 2017. Hon. Cezar de la Cruz, however, insisted that they should rather reschedule the plant inspection as the PRC/PRB cannot issue a certificate of compliance if plant inspection can’t be included.

The company has 2 plants so far, the main in Valenzuela which produces mostly frozen processed meat products and the other one in Malvar, Batangas for canned and bottled products as a more advanced facility totalling more than 4,000 employees with only 3 Chemical Engineers overall - with Engr. Joel Omaña in Operations and two in Malvar, Batangas from Production Operations another one in HR Technical Trainer. Hon. Shirlyn Chua-Reyes asked for the validity of their PRC licenses but unfortunately only one of them is updated.

Hon. Cezar de la Cruz formalizes the discussion by clarifying the 2 laws for implementation - The PRC Modernization Act of 2000 which mandates the PRB to inspect facilities of each line and The Chemical Engineering Law of 2004 which requires the PRB to not only check the Industrial Facilities but also ensure that Chemical Engineers should suppose to supervise Operations involving processes. He particularly concerns as to why there’s no Chemical Engineer in Valenzuela plant Production but a Food Tech which are not allowed to supervise since they don’t have design and engineering background. Though overall The Operations Manager is a ChE, which is also a practice violation concern since his license was not updated, but specifically for the Production Department for Safety purposes as well should have a Chemical Engineer to oversee the area.

In relation to hiring ChE concern, HR Hiyasmin Y. Palanca also consulted about her challenge for finding one with some unfortunate experience of losing candidates for already onboarding over other companies with higher starting salaries which prompts them to rely on other disciplines like Food Technologist graduates. The inspection team also reiterates the BIG difference of ChEs in terms of capabilities with the help of local chapters like PIChE CAMANAVA .

- Engr. Orlando J. Tomol Jr.

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