Govt to launch expanded ‘e-nutribun’ program

The government will be launching an "enhanced" version of the nutribun in July as a measure to boost the country’s food security program amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) said Monday.

Dr. Mario Capanzana of DOST-FNRI made the announcement in a virtual forum, saying that the product will be a better version of the existing nutribun.

“Ito po ay e-nutribun, enhanced nutribun, para di naman ma-associate sa matigas na nutribun. Magka-campaign po kami para mas marami po tayong partner na producer na mabibigyan namin ng aming technology transfer program,” Capanzana said.

“Gagamit rin po kami ng multimedia platform, hihikayatin po namin iyong micro and small businesses, pati malalaking bakeshops na tumugon, para rin po makatulong sa agriculture sector natin kasi iyong gagamitin po natin galing sa itinatanim ng farmers natin like wheat flour at ibang ingredients like kalabasa and other root crops,” Capanzana added.

Capanzana said that the e-nutribun will be made available on the market, aside from its being distributed as part of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Education's feeding programs for families and students in need.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles agreed with Capanzana, noting that the Supplemental Feeding Program in Day Care Centers has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic due to limits on face-to-face interactions.

"For example, we may need to re-operationalize the Supplemental Feeding Program in Day Care Centers through the provision of nutritious food packs. Instead of hot meals, day care students can be provided with nutritious food packs which may include vegetable noodles—malunggay, squash, carrots—rice, and nutribuns, among others," Nograles said.

“Food packs can be distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in close coordination with barangay day care centers, and with face-to-face classes now on hold because of the COVID-19 outbreak, government would have to figure out how to safely implement the Department of Education's (DepEd) which targets underfed school children. With these students now forced to stay home, we may need to bring the program to the communities of these students to make it work," said the cabinet member.

Nograles then said that with almost two million malnourished Filipino children benefitting from government-sponsored school feeding programs at present, the local government units should prioritize these households through barangay registries or with data from public schools to ensure that these families have adequate and healthy meals for their children. — BM, GMA News