Iloilo City champions nutrition with WV’s first LGU-initiated food production facility

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ILOILO CITY – The city government is set to launch today its very own food production facility, the first local government–initiated project of its kind in Western Visayas, as part of its strengthened campaign against malnutrition, particularly among children.

The facility, located at the Uswag Nutrition Center, will serve as a hub for producing enhanced nutribun (e-nutribun), rice-mongo-sesame blend, and other nutritious food supplements designed for complementary feeding programs. It also supports outpatient therapeutic care for malnourished children in the city.

Mayor Raisa Treñas will lead the launch, calling it a major step toward building a healthier future for Iloilo’s young population.

“With this facility, we are reinforcing our fight against malnutrition among our children. We know very well the importance of proper nutrition para sa ikaayong lawas, pagtuon, kag bwas-damlag sang aton mga kabataan,” Mayor Treñas said.

The center has already begun producing its own rice-mongo-sesame blend. Starting Wednesday, the City Health Office (CHO) will roll out a pilot feeding program in Barangay Baldoza, La Paz, distributing the food blend to children in the community.

“Once mag-start na kami sa Wednesday, tuloy-tuloy na ang aton feeding kag distribution sa barangay,” said Dr. Mary Lalaine P. Poblete, CHO Medical Officer I.

The program initially targets 534 children aged 6 to 59 months who were found underweight or wasted based on the 2025 first-quarter Operation Timbang Plus results.

Each child will receive two sachets of the rice-mongo-sesame blend per day. To meet this demand, the facility produces 1,282 sachets daily, including a 20 percent buffer for new beneficiaries.

CHO Nutritionist-Dietitian II Chlaerisse Montealto-Nieves noted that Iloilo City’s malnutrition prevalence has been consistently declining.

“We are hopeful to see further reductions since damu na kita nutrition services nga gina-offer diri sa Iloilo City, especially with our very own food production facility,” she said.
To ensure effectiveness, Barangay Health Workers and Nutrition Scholars will regularly monitor and update the children’s nutritional progress. Nieves added that the team remains open to innovating and improving their dietary products.

The city government allocated ₱54 million for the four-storey Uswag Nutrition Center, which also houses the CHO’s nutrition clinic and multi-purpose halls. Additional support came from Bombo Radyo Philippines Foundation, Inc. (₱2.08 million) and the DOST-6 Grants-in-Aid Program (₱2 million) for equipment procurement.

The DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) conducted the technology transfer training for the rice-mongo-sesame blend production. Soon, the facility will also produce nutri-buns and nutritious cookies as supplementary feeding options.

Currently, the facility is staffed by two bakers, five food handlers, two food technologists, and two utility workers.

Dr. Annabelle Tang, former CHO head and now Executive Assistant for Health to Mayor Treñas, emphasized that the project continues the vision of former Mayor Jerry Treñas and highlights a holistic approach to nutrition.

“Part of this initiative is also to include pregnant women as beneficiaries of nutribuns to ensure better health for their unborn babies,” Dr. Tang said.

Iloilo City’s efforts in nutrition have been recognized nationally. Last year, the National Nutrition Council – Regional Nutrition Committee awarded the city the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2023 Green Banner Seal of Compliance Award, affirming its strong commitment to advancing public health. (Advertorial)