Ilocos Norte revives nutribun, milk, to boost kids’ health

By Leilanie G. Adriano (Staff Reporter)

LAOAG CITY—Vitamin-packed “nutribun”, which was introduced in the 1970s, is making a comeback in Ilocos Norte to boost the immune system of children while the country is under a state a national health emergency due to COVID-19.

In partnership with an Ilocos Norte bakery, the Ilocos Norte government, led by Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc launched a 120-day feeding program dubbed as “Covid-19 Pandemic” at the Provincial Capitol Auditorium on April 27, 2020.

Targeting the undernourished children of the province who are at home to keep them safe, the Ilocos Norte government will distribute the government-funded nutribun, along with pasteurized choco-milk drink to children around the province for a period of 120 days.

The feeding program started April 27, 2020 and it will last until August 25, 2020.

For Ilocos Norte resident like Ruby Cuanang, she said she is excited to let her children have a taste of the nutritious nutribun with choco milk drink manufactured by the Philippine Carabao Center based in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.

“Thank you, [g]overnor. Sana lahat ng bata ay makatikim ng nutribun,” said Jhumel Zonio in a social media post as he recalled his younger years being served with nutribun in school and when he goes home, there’s is also milk on the table courtesy of the government.

“This project is a part of the service package under ‘Nutrition in Emergencies’ where attention to feeding malnourished children during the Covid-19 pandemic is deemed essential and relevant to improve their nutritional status and boost their immune system," said a public statement of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) and the Philippine Nutrition Council, who are spearheading the feeding program.

Earlier, the Provincial Nutrition Action Office (PNC) had previously coordinated with all City/Municipal Nutrition Action Offices to inform distribution protocol, schedule, and other requirements. Supply will be delivered on a weekly basis.

Cities of Batac and Laoag, and Badoc, Pinili, San Nicolas, Currimao, and Paoay towns will receive their share every Monday, from April 27 to August 25; Adams, Pagudpud, Bangui, Burgos, Pasuquin, Bacarra, Dumalneg, and Vintar on Tuesdays from April 28, to August 26; and Banna, Dingras, Solsona, Nueva Era, Marcos, Piddig, Carasi, and Sarrat every Wednesday, starting April 2 to August 27.

In a memorandum, the governor urged all city and municipal mayors to ensure that their respective Nutrition Action Officers along with chairpersons and nutrition scholars of recipient barangays be present for the initial program mechanics briefing.

Nutribun is bread designed by the United States Agency for International Development and originally distributed under the USAID Food for Peace program to alleviate childhood malnutrition in the Philippines during the administration of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

The PGIN version of the milk bread is now baked with malunggay (moringa), honey, and fortified with Vitamins A and B6.

PNC impressed that these were specially formulated for supplementing one third of the daily caloric needs of undernourished children; the Nutribun and choco-milk contain 400 and 75 calories, respectively.

“Ito po ang wish ng family ko for how many years—na ibalik ang nutribun. Even though we are just starting [in Ilocos Norte], we see this as a great opportunity na ituloy ang dating programa ng lolo ko [Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.],” Mr. Manotoc remarked.

During the orientation and distribution of supplies to 17 barangay and 38 children recipients in Laoag City alone, representatives from implementing offices likewise discussed guidelines to Barangay Nutrition Committee members, underscoring the importance of monitoring the children’s health progression every month.

“Problema po ang malnourishment dito sa probinsiya natin. Medyo mababa ang numbers pero highest tayo sa Region I,” the governor claimed.

“Kagaya ng COVID-19, ayaw natin ng number one pagdating sa malnutrition,” he added.

Moreover, PNC also stressed on the importance of deworming, immunization, vitamin supplementation and other PGIN health programs to further immunize the children as the feeding program only serves as a part of the holistic approach to lessen the prevalence of malnutrition in the province.

“Hopefully with all our nutrition action officers and scholars, we will rectify this problem in a few years. These are difficult times but we should also remember our children,” he ended. (With a report from PGIN-CMO)