By Ben Serrano SURIGAO del Norte- The first and only nutritive and baby food manufacturer in Caraga Region which is located in this town of the province of Surigao del Norte is now operational. This developed after top official of the Department of Science and Technology (Dost) and the provincial government of Surigao del Norte and the Municipality of Gigaquit with other government agency officials spearheaded the blessing and inauguration on Wednesday the first Nutritive Food Processing Plant in Caraga Region if not in Mindanao. The plant dubbed “Roll-out Complementary Food (Comfood) Processing Plant Project” is located in Barangay Poblacion of this town. During Inauguration and blessing of Comfood manufacturing plant, no less than Dost
  1. Matugas, Rep Francisco Tinio Matugas, Gigaquit Mayor Carlos M. Egay, Sr. and other top officials of Dost and provincial board members of Surigao del Norte spearheaded the cutting of ribbon of the inauguration and blessing of the plant conducted by a priest.
In his speech, Secretary Montejo said Dost chipped in P5.5 million for the equipment and facilities, the provincial government of Surigao del Norte provides P1.6 million for the building of the plant while the Gigaquit LGU provided P1.5 million for the land acquisition and other expenses. Montejo dubbed the produce of the plant local Cerelac and Berger infant food producer which will help solve malnutrition and undernourishment cases in Caraga Region which he claimed on the rise over the years.   For her part, Governor Matugas said in her speech that the plant capable of producing 500 to 700 nutri-packs daily can now supply massive feeding program in various community-based and school-based feeding projects of Surigao del Norte which has total of 27 municipalities, 20 of which are found in mainland Surigao del Norte while seven in Siargao Island. “Under my top priority programs for the province called Heals by which H stands for Health, Housing, E for Environment and Education, A for Agriculture and Aqua-Marine resources sustainable development agenda, L for livelihood and S for Sanitation, Health fighting to at least eradicate and wipe out malnutrition cases is my number one priority” the lady Governor of Surigao del Norte added. Gigaquit Mayor Carlos M. Egay, Sr. for his part claimed the plant will be operated, run and administered by NGO Gigaquit Women’s Association as part of the government’s livelihood program and empowerment of women in Gigaquit. The Complementary Food Project is under supervision of the Women's Association of Gigaguit produces the Himsog Bugas-Monggo Nutri-Curls and Himsog Bugas-Monggo Baby Food Blend. The produce of the farmers in this town and nearby municipalities in the province and Caraag Region which is mongo and malunggay farming will be used as raw materials of the plant. The project is funded by Dost, FNRI, province of Surigao del Norte and the municipality of Gigaguit.(-30-)