With the pressing need to address hunger and malnutrition among children in the Province of Antique which were further worsened due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Antique Sibalom Campus will be rolling out e-Nutribun in the province. The university, through its Sibalom Technology and Livelihood Support Hub (TechnoHub) in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) VI, Department of Education (DepEd) Antique Division and the Local Government Units in Antique will produce and distribute the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) developed Enhanced Nutribun or e-Nutribun using the S&T equipment that will be provided under the Production and Distribution of Enhanced Nutribun in the Province of Antique Project of the DOST VI GIA Program.
The Sibalom TechnoHub is a beneficiary of the DOST Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program in Antique. It is one of the processing hubs provided with the different food processing equipment under the program which was made operational in 2018 with the aim of promoting good health and nutrition especially to the communities where malnutrition is prevalent.
e-Nutribun is a reformulated ready-to-eat bread in the 1970s which consists of necessary nutrients required for the children to fight against malnutrition. This was developed in response to the call of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Memorandum Circular No. 12 Series of 2020 which aimed to identify and recommend healthful and nutritious food packs and sustainable food source to alleviate hunger and nutrition that might be caused by the limited access due to the imposed community quarantine.
Produced e-Nutribun will be distributed to the 510 malnourished elementary level children aged 6-9 years old from the 17 municipalities in the province of Antique. The feeding will last for 120 days targeting 30-children beneficiary per municipality.
This worthwhile endeavor will last for 1 year. Currently, there is a shortage of squash supplies thus the project needs squash suppliers to support the adopters. (JJMoleño/DOST VI-KMU)
