The Department of Agriculture (DA) issued a special order early this year for the creation of a technical working group (TWG) on the promotion of corn for health.
The special order aims to ensure a sustained consumption of white corngrits in the Philippines for health considerations.
The TWG shall be responsible for overseeing the different activities towards production of quality shelled corn and corngrits in fresh and semi-processed forms in the field.
The group shall also promote compliance to the Philippine National Standards on Good Agricultural Practice (PNS-GAP) on corn, shelled corn and corngrits through advocacy campaigns, pilot modeling, research, training and other related activities.
The TWG is chaired by Dr. Edralina P. Serrano and co-chaired by Dr. Artemio M. Salazar, both from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB).
Advisers of the TWG are Director Gilberto Layese from the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) of the DA and Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Dennis B. Araullo. Asec. Araullo is also the National Coordinator for National Rice and Corn Program of the DA.
Members include representatives from National Food Authority (NFA) of the DA, Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health (FDA-DOH), Agri-Pinoy Corn Program, Philmaize, Corn Board, DA-BAFPS, Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), National Nutrition Council (NNC) of the DOH and the Department of Food Science and Nutrition of UP-Diliman.
For more information on food and nutrition, contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), Gen. Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Telephone/Fax no.: 837-2934, 837-2071 local 2295; e-mail: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph; mar_v_capanzana@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http//www.fnri.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST/Regina M. Pagaspas)
