JASMINE D. JASO
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Senator Imee Marcos, Acting Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda, and other local officials led the launching of nutribun feeding program at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here on Thursday, November 17.
The said activity is aimed at reintroducing the vitamin-packed bread previously used to combat child malnutrition during the administration of the late former president, Ferdinand E. Marcos.
“Naglevel-up na tayo, may iba’t-ibang flavors na ang nutribun para hindi magsawa ang mga bata. Mayroon na rin tayong nutri-bus, kung saan nagluluto rin ng mga champorado at kung anu-ano pa. Galing ang pondo nito sa kita ng pelikulang Maid in Malacañang,” said Sen. Marcos.
According to data posted on the official website of the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), “each serving of enhanced nutribun, weighing 160-165 grams per piece, has 504 calories, 17.8 grams protein, 6.08 milligrams iron and 244 micrograms vitamin A.”
The DOST-FNRI conducted the first-ever online soft launching of “Ang Pagbabalik ng Nutribun” via Zoom on July 29, 2020, in response to the call of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to address the issue of hunger and food security among Filipino children in order to prevent the regression of the current nutritional status thereof.
On February 16, 2022, the research institute virtually launched new variants of the enhanced nutribun–the orange and purple sweet potato variants–that aim to make vegetable consumption easy and a much enjoyable experience for the young children.
The event coincided with the distribution of assistance to individuals in crisis situations (AICS), wherein one thousand individuals throughout the province received ₱3,000 each from the DSWD.
“Malaking bagay ito, lalo na para sa ating mga kababayan na mahihirap. Kaya nagpapasalamat tayo sa DSWD, at siyempre kay Sen. Imee para rito sa nutribun feeding program. Gusto ko ang programa niya, dahil nabibigyan ng atensyon ang nutrisyon ng mga bata, at ‘yon ang importante,” said Acting Governor Nanay.
Meanwhile, Senator Marcos expressed her thanks to the provincial government for its efforts to alleviate the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the nutritional well-being of children by providing them with healthful food they need to survive.
Aside from nutritional benefits, Sen. Marcos also stressed that enhanced nutribuns can also provide economic opportunities to farmers through raw material supply for production.
