DOST provides complementary food to 50 children in Romblon
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Mimaropa has distributed complementary baby food (CBF) to 50 children in a geographically isolated Island in Romblon in a move to address the malnutrition rate in the province.

DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña reported that the “Nutrigold” was given to 50 children from 17 barangays in the municipality of Banton.
He noted that Banton, a fifth-class municipality, has the seventh highest malnutrition rate among 17 municipalities in Romblon.
"Nutrigold is a CBF formulation made by DOST-Mimaropa-assisted Barangay Nutrition Scholars Association (BNSA)-Odiongan. It is made of a mix of rice, mungbean, and sesame seeds,” he said.
"A 30-gram pack of Nutrigold is rich in energy and protein to support the growth of children. One pack is sufficient for one serving and is ideal to be eaten every day. With proper nutrition, enough rest, and care from parents, the CBF is proven to help improve the health status of children.”
The distribution of the Nutrigold was made possible through the DOST's Community Empowerment through S&T (CEST) program, the DOST chief said.
De la Peña said such intervention was made, considering that Banton recorded a poverty incidence of 25.02 percent based on the 2015 census.
He said Banton is one of Romblon’s geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) and it usually takes two to three hours via ship to get to the island.