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| BIGMO Feeding Program |
BIGMO, a complementary food for children developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is set to lead the effort to alleviate child malnutrition in Valenzuela City.
The Department of Science and Technology – National Capital Region (DOST-NCR) established a facility in Valenzuela City that will produce the said complementary food for Valenzuela City’s children who are aged 5 years and below.
The automated food production facility will be located at the Valenzuela City Polytechnic College (ValPoly).
The inauguration of the facility was led by DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Pena. The DOST’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute developed BIGMO that comes in 3 forms. BIGMO Curls, BIGMO ready-to-cook baby food, and BIGMO Instant Blend. This complementary food is aimed at addressing child malnutrition in Valenzuela City.
Valenzuela City May Rexlon T. Gatchalian welcomed the DOST facility and it will dovetail with the city’s current barangay-based feeding program.
Although there are 4 other food production facilities in the country, The facility in Valenzuela is the first facility to be fully automated. This feature minimizes human contamination due to handling. The facility is also centrally controlled.
The facility can process 120 kg of rice or mung beans per hour and that is 30 grams per sachet of BIGMO. Also, it is capable of processing rice and mung beans of up to 180 kg which can finish a daily production in two hours.
Various offices of DOST such as the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Metals Industry Research and Development Institute, and the DOST-NCR– worked hand-in-hand with the Valenzuela City LGU, ValPoly, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce Valenzuela Chapter.
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