The Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) has forged partnership with the Philippine Army to develop and field test ready-to-eat (RTE) food rations for men in uniform during combat and high-risk operations.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña disclosed that the DOST-ITDI and the Research and Development Center (RDC), Army Support Command (ASCOM) of the Philippine Army signed via Zoom on July 2, 2021, the terms of reference (TOR) for the project on RTE food rations.
He said the signing of the TOR is in connection with the collaboration of DOST-ITDI with the Philippine Army for the project “Development and Field Testing of RTE Foods as Food Ration for Men in Uniform during Combat and other High-Risk Operations”.
The project is funded by the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD). It aims to establish the process schedule for the RTE foods, shelf-life simulating storage conditions, handling and distribution of food rations in combat operations, label design and transport packaging,
“The project involves the development and field testing at identified sites of the Philippine Army of six RTE foods such as chicken adobo, beef curry, steamed rice, adobong kangkong, chicken afritada, and bangus sisig,” de la Peña said during his weekly report on Friday, July 9.
De la Peña had announced that the DOST-ITDI through its Packaging Technology Division is jointly implementing a project with the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to develop and field test its ready-to-eat products as food rations for men in uniform during combat and high-risk operations.
He said among the DOST-ITDI’s retort foods that underwent field testing were steamed rice, chicken adobo, adobong kangkong, beef curry, chicken afritada, and bangus sisig.
Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/09/dost-partners-with-ph-army-pnp-in-field-testing-ready-to-eat-food-products/
Last month, the DOST announced the development of RTE chicken soup under its “Pack of Hope” brand, seven years after it developed its RTE arroz caldo.
The newly developed food product aims to meet the food and nutrition needs of the country’s most vulnerable sectors, including children and elderly during disasters and calamities.
Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/28/pack-of-hope-dost-develops-ready-to-eat-chicken-corn-soup-for-elderly-children/