1970s FEEDING PROGRAM

SPEAKER Eugenio Perez National Agricultural School (SEPNAS) in San Carlos City revived the habit of eating Nutribun, a daily bread among school kids made popular in the 70s, to fight malnutrition to mark the observance of Nutrition Month.

It will be recalled that Nutribun was produced to feed public school children who were mostly severely underweight based on their nutritional status implemented under the USAID Food for Peace Program.

Lyndon Garcia, assistant school principal for operation, said the idea to revive it came from Schools Division Superintendent Sheila Marie Primicias.

Primicias said the program enables the school to maximize the school’s baking equipment for their Technology and Vocational Livelihood (TVL) education specializing in bread and pastry track of their Senior High School.

Garcia said Ronie Ramos, a senior high teacher, worked as baker in two bake shops with various outlets nationwide, is helping in the implementation. “We are making the bread for our student’s consumption,” he said.

Aside from Nutribun, the school also produces Spanish bread, cheese bread, pan de coco, tuna bread, choco German or more than 10 varieties of bread products.

The Nutribun is produced every Monday and Thursday in line with the school-based feeding program of the Department of Education (DepEd) Central Office that provides the fund for elementary schools, Garcia said.

The students bake a minimum of 3,600 pieces of Nutribun for the division’s 59 public elementary schools feeding program twice a week. Teachers also buy Nutribun for their families.

According to Aurora Sibayan, the DepEd nutritionist-dietician, , a cup of rice is equivalent to one piece of Nutribun and a 120 days program is ideal.

Today’s Nutribun is more nutritious because it contains powdered malunggay leaves, an input from the senior students. she said.

Since the Nutribun is sold to other schools for their supplement feeding programs at P5, the program enables students to learn entrepreneurship. Profit earned will be used to upgrade the facilities of the school’s canteen. (PhilStar Wire Service)

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