The Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), the municipal government of Mulanay, Quezon, and the DOST Region IV-A (CALABARZON) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the production of complementary food. The MOA signing was held on 10 February 2014 at the Municipal Function Hall of Mulanay in Quezon Province.
Present during the event were Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, FNRI Director; Dr. Alexander R. Madrigal, DOST IV-A Regional Director; and Hon. Joselito A. Ojeda, Mayor of Mulanay, Quezon.
“Commitment, commitment, commitment!”, is what Mayor Ojeda stressed in his welcome remarks as he challenged local officials regarding their commitment to the technical assistance extended by FNRI through the DOST IV-A.
According to the 2008 FNRI National Nutrition Survey, Mulanay, a first class partially-urban municipality of Quezon, ranked fifth for malnutrition problem in the province. It also has a poverty incidence of 59.7 percent, as quoted in a Mulanay news article posted in the Philippine Information Agency’s (PIA) website (2012).
Dr. Madrigal, in his Opening Remarks lauded Dr. Capanzana for the prompt response in his invitation to attend the event despite of a short notice.
The recent MOA signing marks the 4th collaborative project in the region between the FNRI and the DOST IV-A, Dr. Madrigal added.
Dr. Madrigal also mentioned the complementary feeding program and other activities conducted by the FNRI and other DOST agencies, and at the same time, presented the line-up of the DOST projects for Mulanay.
Dr. Capanzana, in his message, discussed briefly the FNRI’s mandates. He also discussed the Malnutrition Reduction Program of the Institute and the results of the 2008 and 2011 nutrition surveys focusing on stunting.
According to Dr. Capanzana, a child who is stunted or chronically malnourished is shorter than normal for his or her age. Stunting, he added, starts before birth and is caused by poor maternal nutrition, feeding practices, and food quality.
Stunting is irreversible and has a long term-effect. To address it, nutrition interventions are needed among pregnant women and children from birth to five years of age.
The MOA signing for the production of complementary food that can cover even five nearby municipalities comes in the most opportune time to help address malnutrition and unemployment.
Assistance from FNRI includes technical training for the production of complementary food, plant lay-out, looking for possible source of raw materials, and promotion of the products, among others.
Witnessing the ceremony were Ms. Maria Esperanza E. Jawili, Provincial S&T Director of DOST Quezon, the Mulanay Vice Mayor Fernandito T. Baronia, Municipal Councilors, Municipal Health Officers, and other local officials of Mulanay.
For more information on food and nutrition, contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City, Telephone/Fax No. 8372934, 837-3164, 837-2071 loc 2287 e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; FNRI-DOST website: http//www.fnri.dost.gov.ph . (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service: Press Release –SANCHO S. LABONG)
