The Department of Science and Technology–Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) has provided more than 55,000 packs of the enhanced nutribun squash variant and rice-mongo crunchies to more than 3,000 public elementary school students in Quezon province.
A total of 55,548 pieces of rice-mongo crunchies and another 55,548 packs of the enhanced nutribun were extended to students in the municipalities of Pitogo and Unisan, Quezon province as part of the school-based feeding program.
The provision of the food products developed by the DOST–Food Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) was made possible through the DOST’s Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) Program.
The municipalities of Pitogo and Unison were included in the list of priority areas of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger.
A total of 1,503 students in Pitogo and 1,583 in Unisan were allotted three SIGLA Rice-Mongo Crunchies and three enhanced nutribun packs for each week of the six-week feeding program, the DOST-Calabarzon said.
The completion of the feeding program is being eyed next week or on the week of Dec. 6.
DOST-Calabarzon Regional Director Emelita P. Bagsit and DOST-FNR Director Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa visited Poctol Elementary School and Sumag Elementary School in Pitogo, Quezon province on Nov. 29, as they braced for the completion of the school-based feeding program with the Department of Education (DepEd)-Calabarzon.
Sumag Elementary School is located along the coast, reachable via a 15-minute boat ride from the mainland.
Officer-in-Charge (OIC)-Principal Charina A. Lorica thanked the DOST officials for visiting Sumag Elementary School, which is included in the DepEd’s Last Mile Schools program.
"Bagama’t maliit ang crunchies at nutribun ay siksik sa sustansya. Ang tugon ng DOST-FNRI is really to address the nutrients gap—mga sustansyang kulang (Although they are small, crunchies and nutribun are loaded with nutrients. DOST-FNRI’s response is really to address the nutrients gap —nutrient deficiencies,” Dr. Angeles-Agdeppa said in her short message during the visit.
The DOST-Calabarzon threw support to adoption and commercialization of the DOST-FNRI technologies by some groups and enterprises.
These include Samahan ng mga Inang Gabay at Lakas ng Aktibong Komunidad (SIGLA) of the E. Zobel Foundation, Inc. for the rice-mongo crunchies, and the Pecto’s Bakery, local government unit of Mauban, and Four K Kakao Farm of the Office of Quezon 4th District Rep. Angelina Tan for the enhanced nutribun.