ILOILO CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) inaugurated a functional food facility at the University of San Agustin (USA) in this city.
THE Kasanggang Niche Centers in the Region in Functional Food Excellence opened on Jan. 10 in Iloilo City. (DOST-Region 6)
The newly opened Kasanggang Niche Centers in the Region (NICER) in Functional Food Excellence is set to provide local researchers with advanced tools and resources to accelerate scientific discovery, particularly in the field of functional food.
DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Leah Buendia said that facilities such as Kasanggang NICER strengthen collaboration and innovation in Western Visayas.
The facility funded by the DOST is under the supervision of the USA Center for Natural Drug Discovery and Development (CND3).
The facility houses the SPC-FUEL for Health: Sugarcane, Pulses, and Cacao Products from Functional Food Innovations to Enhance Life.
The DOST-6 collaborated with Pharma GalenX for the Project Accelerating Sugarcane products Utilization for Commodity Availability and Reliability (ASUCAR) that aims to boost the marketability of muscovado sugar produced in Western Visayas region by highlighting its nutritional benefits.
Also present during the Jan. 10 inauguration were DOST Undersecretary Maridon Sahagun, Dr. Jaime Montoya of the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), DOST Assistant Regional Director Keitlyn Sarah Bernardino, DOST-6 Chief Science Research Specialist Naomi Cosette Luis, and DOST-PCHRD Division chief Paul Ernest de Leon.
The USA team was led by President Fr. Arnel Dizon and Vice President for Research and Global Relations Dr. Jonel P. Saludes.