PALO, Leyte - Baybay City through its City Nutrition Office advances another food innovation, this time with the use of sweet potato and buffalo milk. Both food commodity will be use in their supplementary feeding programs for pregnant women and children 6-59 months old.

Sweet potatoes or “camote” is described by Dr. Julie D. Tan a retired professor of the Visayas State University (VSU) as “superfood”.

It contains complex carbohydrates and fiber essential for source of energy and dietary fiber that prevents constipation.

Meanwhile, milk coming from hybrid carabao or buffalo is a good source of calcium necessary for strong bones and teeth.

City Mayor Carlos Jerico L. Cari welcomed guests and participants specially pregnant and lactating mothers in the event. He stressed the need to support camote and its farmer-growers in the city and in the neighboring towns of the congressional district.

He vowed to support its production including support to technology development to be utilized as complementary food for nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and children 6 to 59 months old.

Meanwhile, Science and Technology Provincial Director for Leyte Province Dr. John Glenn Ocana also vowed to support the project in terms of technical assistance and technology transfer.

For his part, Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr., the Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator supports the utilization of camote as super food to be utilized as complementary food for nutritionally at risk pregnant women and children 6 to 59 months old.

The utilization of camote as complementary food will help lower down the malnutrition rate in the city.

Earlier in his message of support, congratulated the city of Baybay for bagging the 2021 Green Banner Seal of Compliance, Outstanding City Nutrition Action Officer, Outstanding City Nutrition Program Coordinator and a special citation on Best First 1000 Days Innovative Project through their Pre-recorded Video Nutrition Education Classes.

He also told the audience on the decreasing trend of malnutrition in the city. #RNPC-CPD