The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through Siquijor Provincial S&T Center’s Engr. Mario E. de la Peña distributed Enhanced Nutribun (from DOST-IV-A) to the officers and staff of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and to the community of Persons Deprived of Liberty of the province of Siquijor.

As part of the government’s relief effort to those affected by Typhoon Odette, DOST CALABARZON donated 1,000 pieces of Enhanced Nutribun to DOST SIQUIJOR PSTC. The latter’s beneficiaries are preferentially those projects that have availed of DOST’s intervention under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), Grants-in-Aid (GIA), and the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program. Its Samaritan spirit, however, extended to small communities other than those aforementioned.

“I am very grateful to this initiative from DOST IV-A, CALABARZON. I thank the leadership of its Regional Director Emelita P. Bagsit, and the conscientious support of OIC-Regional Director-DOST VII Engr. Jesus F. Zamora Jr. It’s heartwarming to know that we are pooling our resources together to give victims of Odette an assurance, more than what we share, that they are not left alone in their struggle,” Engr. Mario E. de la Peña of DOST Siquijor said.

Enhanced Nutribun is a product of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) which primarily serves as a food supplement especially for young children. According to Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, DOST-FNRI Director IV and Scientist II, this Nutribun is nutritionally adequate in terms of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.

In the context of the province of Siquijor, beneficiaries also include other members of the community, organizations, or associations. This donation from DOST IV-A was distributed last 12 January 2022.

The first group to receive was the community of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology together with those Persons Deprived of Liberty; second was the Siquijor Women’s Association for a Better Environment (SWABE); third was Youth Front Liners/Sangguniang Kabataan Provincial Federation; and finally, the Siquijor Sewers Association.

Jean Clair Hibaya of BJMP said, “Ang nutribun bus-ok, lami, milky, humot, og dili hasol usapon.” (The nutribun is stuffy, healthy, delicious, milky, smells perfect, and is soft to the tongue.)

With a bite of the Nutribun, Arlita Ferolin of SWABE quickly dropped her comment, “Lami kaayo. Imong mabati nga gitarong gyud ni og luto.” (This is very delicious. One could sense this is carefully baked.)

On the other hand, Hon. Brylle Deeiah D. Tumarong, SK Federation Chair/Board Member of the Province of Siquijor said, “Well, I thought that this Nutribun would be just like those which appear good at the outside but nothing really inside. But after I have taken my first bite, my presumption died out. This is really a good creamy bread. I thank the donor, DOST Calabarzon, for extending its sympathy with us here in the island of Siquijor, and as a leader of the young people in the province, I know this would serve as energy-giver to the youth.”

Finally, Mila Abne of Siquijor Sewers Association was briefly categorical about the Nutribun and she said, “Lami.” (It’s delicious.)

A taste of Nutribun would probably not last a lifetime to answer man’s health needs, and one would not wish to have another Odette to taste it again. What is important is that this Nutribun is a gesture of humanity. It does make it more valuable than the cost of a piece.

In one voice, the beneficiaries echoed, “Thank you, DOST IVA and VII.” (Engr. Mario E. de la Peńa & Jose Aldous R. Arbon II, DOST SIQUIJOR IO)