THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-CALABARZON through its Provincial Science and Technology Office in Batangas (PSTO-Batangas) officially inaugurated the Iodine-fortified Drinking Water (Tubig Talino) production facility for Bilibinwang Multipurpose Cooperative (MPC) at Brgy. Bilibinwang, Agoncillo, Batangas.
Atty. Cinderella Valenton-Reyes, Municipal Mayor of Agoncillo, Engr. Francisco R. Barquilla III, Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations of DOST-CALABARZON, Ms. Felina C. Malabanan, Provincial Director of PSTO-Batangas, Dr. Maria Melissa Ariola, Public Schools District Supervisor of the Department of Education Agoncillo Sub-Office, Ms. Jocelyn Catada, Agrarian Reform Officer I of Department of Agrarian Reform-Batangas, Mr. Rolando H. Endozo, Chairperson of Bilibinwang MPC, and Mr. Carlito Enriquez, General Manager of Bilibinwang MPC, spearheaded the inauguration activity. Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, Director of the DOST Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), also provided her message of support through a recorded video. A discussion on the Tubig Talino technology was also conducted during the inauguration activity through a recorded presentation by Ms. Trinidad II T. Arcangel, Senior Science Research Specialist of DOST-FNRI
The implementation of the Tubig Talino technology for Bilibinwang MPC is part of the PSTO-Batangas’ Grants-in-Aid Community-based project. The project aims to transfer Tubig Talino technology as the cooperative’s new business venture that will help contribute to the government’s program to control iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in the country. For their own branding, they named their iodine-fortified drinking water as “Watalino”.
Tubig Talino, developed by DOST-FNRI, is purified or ordinary potable water mixed with Water Plus Iodine (I2) that may be consumed to improve the iodine intake of Filipinos, resulting in better health. According to FNRI, 5 ml of Water Plus I2 can make 20 liters of Tubig Talino, which can meet 33% of the daily iodine requirement of the body. Tubig Talino’s efficacy study, conducted by DOST-FNRI, demonstrated that it could help improve students’ academic performance.
