Nestlé Philippines Inc. participated in the Department of Science and Technology's OneLab network of laboratories to provide food safety and quality assurance testing for micro, small and medium enterprises.
DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña and Nestlé chairman and chief executive Kais Marzouki led the virtual signing of the memorandum of understanding on June 29, 2021. The partnership aims to provide accessible and affordable "world-class" chemical and microbiological analytical testing to Filipino MSMEs.
"In unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come, we look forward to closer cooperation with the DOST through OneLab, and together champion food safety and quality," Marzouki said.
"Our membership in OneLab helps us protect Filipino consumers and assist entrepreneurs by championing compliance with regulatory standard. Food safety is vital to the health of Filipino consumers, so we are happy to be part of this initiative," Nestlé senior vice president and head of corporate affairs and sustainability Arlene Tan-Bantoto said.
De la Peña also said that the partnership symbolizes government and private sector teamwork to uplift Filipino lives.
"This activity is a symbolic partnership between government and private sector in working together to uplift the lives of our people through the provision of relevant and very accessible testing capabilities," he said.
The DOST and Nestlé, through Nestlé Quality Assurance Center in Cabuyao, will share knowledge, expertise, resources and capabilities to achieve their goal. The partnership also opens an opportunity for NQAC to support the DOST-driven innovation projects' analytical requirements.
"Having Nestlé with its NQAC laboratory as a partner adds to the global competitiveness of OneLab and further expands its scope of testing services for start-up businesses in the country," de la Peña said.
"Filipino MSMEs can now access our analytical expertise in food testing as a member of the DOST OneLab Network," said Philippe Gallardo, zone head of Nestlé Testing Centers.
Nestlé's NQAC in Cabuyao is the company's first laboratory to be part of OneLab's roster of analytical testing laboratories.
OneLab was created to meet the need for a simplified system for testing and calibration requirements of research institutions, the government and non-government sectors and the general public, particularly MSMEs.
It operates through an IT-based platform for easier access to the testing services of all DOST laboratories and other OneLab members' laboratories by offering standardized services and fees nationwide and has a feature of a referral system for accurate testing and calibration results.
OneLab's services include chemical, physical, microbiological, radiological testing of water, wastewater, food, wood, furniture, textile, paper, metals and electronic products. Calibration services are also made available to meet the metrological traceability of testing laboratories and the various industries. Rushelle Intia
