The Iloilo City Nutrition Center on Monday opened its production facility to provide nutritious food and promote healthier eating habits in the community.

The facility will produce rice-mongo-sesame blend complementary food option developed by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute, targeting malnourished children aged six months to three years.

Mayor Raisa Treñas, in her message during the unveiling program, said the Barangay Nutrition Scholars have already identified the top 10 barangays with stunted children who will be prioritized as recipients of the complementary food.

These are Barangays Calahunan, San Isidro, Baldoza, Bolilao, Navais, Lopes Jaena Norte, Bo. Obrero, Oñate de Leon, Sto Niño Sur, and Molo Boulevard.

“This center can help our children in the city. At an early age, we can already address malnutrition because the growth and development of children happen during their first 1,000 days,” she said.

Dubbed as “RAIS-SUSTANSYA,” the complementary food is a ready-to-cook mix of rice, mung beans, and sesame seeds, offering four grams of protein and 39kcal of energy per 30-gram pack.

One pack meets 18 percent of the recommended daily energy intake, and 28.6 percent of the recommended protein intake for children six months to less than 10 months.

Initially, the facility can produce at least 1,000 packs a day.

The supplemental feeding for children six months to three years old will start on Sept. 18.

“After this, we are just waiting for the technology transfer from DOST for our (enhanced) nutribuns. The nutribuns will be for our daycare centers all over Iloilo City,” she said.

She added the city government will ensure that they come to school with a full stomach so they can perform well in school. (PNA)