Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan
DUMAGUETE CITY,
July 27 (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) here is
encouraging local government units in the province to avail of the nutritious
food products produced by the DOST-assisted facility in Bayawan City.
DOST-Negros Oriental
Provincial Director Roslyn Tambago, in a recent forum with the Association
of Negros Oriental Public Information Officers (ANOPIO), said that DOST has
helped establish a food processing facility in Barangay Nangka,
Bayawan City in collaboration with the Nangka Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries
Farmer’s Association (NABEFA) and the city agriculture office.
The
facility produces rice-mongo food complementary food blends and snack
curls rich with essential nutrients.
“We are encouraging
other LGUs to avail of this product for your feeding program. There are no
preservatives,” Tambago said.
She said
the Bayawan City government is already using this for their nutrition
and feeding program in schools.
Each rice-mongo food
blend and snack curls are priced at P5 per pack.
The projects is in
line with the department's technology transfer strategy under the DOST-Package
for the Improvement of Nutrition of Young Children (DOST-PINOY) program.
Based on the latest
National Nutrition Survey conducted in 2013, results show that from the
age group 0 to 5 years old, around 20 percent are underweight, 30
percent are underweight or stunted, while 8 percent are thin or
wasted.
Tambago said these
food blends are adopted in 15 areas nationwide and it has gained favorable
results with 15 percent reduction in the underweight prevalence among 60
to 35 month old children in four provinces in the country.
Their goal, she
said, is to create a demand for said food products among different LGUs
and increase the production in the DOST-supported food processing facility.
Interested LGUs may
coordinate with NABEFA Production Manager Jill Dela Cruz through 0905-849-8363
or Bayawan City Agriculture Office via telephone numbers 531-0513 or
430-0184. (rmn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)