To ensure that the health and nutrition needs of its kindergarten and Grade 1 pupils in public schools are met, the Marikina City government on Wednesday started the implementation of the Nutribun program.

Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro led the launching of the city’s Nutribun Program at the Parang Elementary School which was attended by more than 1,000 pupils and their parents.

“Titingnan natin ang kanilang grades at performance after 120 days kung nag-improve sila sa pag-aaral. Ayon kasi sa mga pag-aaral, may relasyon ang tamang nutrisyon sa performance sa pag-aaral ng mga bata (We will check on their grades and performance after 120 days if they have improved on their studies. Based on studies, proper nutrition has something to do with the children’s academic performance),” the mayor said.

Teodoro said the bread, fortified with vitamins and minerals, and milk, will be provided free to kinder and elementary students.

Teodoro also told the parents not to solely rely on schools in providing proper nutrition to their children as they should be the ones advocating healthy eating habits.

As ordered by Teodoro, Marikina LGU will conduct a seminar on nutrition among parents to teach them the recommended food daily allowance needed by their growing children.

“Sa kanilang batang edad, talagang mapili sila sa pagkain, picky eaters kumbaga kaya naman dapat ang i-push natin sa kanila ay balanced nutrition. Kailangan nating ituro ang tamang pagkain sa ating mga anak (At a young age, children tend to be picky. They are picky eaters that is why we must push a balanced nutrition for them. We need to teach the importance of proper diet to our children),” the mayor said.

Meanwhile, Teodoro lauded former City Councilor Judy Magtubo, head of the program, for successfully implementing all his plans on the Nutribun Program.

Magtubo said that they are also providing milk to go along with the fortified bun.

Marciana De Guzman, principal of Parang Elementary School, said the school has around 600 malnourished children.

According to the principal, they have their bakery, which they call “Nutripan.”

“Hinahaluan natin ng kalabasa ang Nutribun, minsan naman ay malunggay ang halo. May tanim kami na 50 na puno ng malunggay dito sa school kaya hindi na kami bumibili. Iyong kalabasa na lang ang binibili namin (We mix squash with the Nutribun. We have 50 malunggay plants here in school so we don’t have to buy. We only buy the squash,” De Guzman said.

The fund for the Nutribun program will be coming from the Special Nutrition Fund of Marikina City, Mayor Teodoro said.

The bread is well fortified with nutrients and was designed around a “base” product that could be modified using any number of locally available substances.