BY JEN BAYLON
ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Government is partnering with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to produce a nutritious food mix and enhanced nutribun (e-nutribun) for its feeding program.
The complementary food of rice, mongo, and sesame mix targets children within the zero to 60 months age bracket, while the e-nutribun would be introduced to other age groups.
Mayor Jerry Treñas met with DOST-6 director Rowen Gelonga on Tuesday, Nov. 28. They also inspected the proposed site of the project at the soon-to-be-completed building of the City Nutrition Council on General Luna Street, City Proper district.
Treñas said the nutrition center would serve as a venue for Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) to receive trainings in producing nutritious food mix and e-nutribun.
“I have talked to the DOST regional director and he agreed to assist us in producing nutribun for the supplemental feeding program of children. I am very grateful for our partnership with the DOST. We will have a healthier children population in our city,” said Treñas.
For its part, the DOST-6 said they will help in the technical side of the production facility.
“We will co-share the equipment and then we will transfer the technology to the city government that will produce the products. Initially, we target to produce nutribun, aside from the complementary food of rice, mongo, and sesame mix for malnourished children,” Gelonga said.
He further said the complementary food, aside from being cost-effective, has a science-based formulation to address not only hunger but also malnutrition.
DOST and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) launched the reformulated e-nutribun technology, which is rich in protein, enhanced with micro-nutrients, iron, and Vitamin A back in 2020.
The ready-to-eat bread weighs approximately 160 grams and provides 32 percent calories, 59 percent protein, 60 percent iron, and 60 percent Vitamin A of the required energy and nutrient intake (REN) for children, according to DOST data.
Meanwhile, during the National Science, Technology and Innovation Week 2023 celebration in this city, DOST secretary Renato Solidum Jr. emphasized the importance of not only tasty but also nutritious food in line with Iloilo City’s recognition as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Creative City for Gastronomy.
Solidum added that aside from delicious food, it is crucial to study the eating habits of consumers to determine the appropriate portion size of their meals. (With a report from Philippine News Agency)/PN