SMC to revive Nutribun to nourish people in quarantined communities

Remember that vitamin-packed bread distributed in public schools in the 1970s to combat child malnutrition?

Called Nutribun, the snack will be mass-produced by conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) to supplement the food supply of poor communities forced to stay home for the Luzon-wide lockdown meant to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“This is safe, sufficient and nutritious food for the hardest-hit families facing hunger as a result of the COVID-19 crisis,” SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said in a press statement.

Caritas Manila

SMC said the Nutribuns will be distributed to critical Metro Manila communities as well as charitable groups, starting with Caritas Manila.

At the same time, SMC food products will continue to distribute canned food, coffee and biscuits to local government units, checkpoints and hospitals within Metro Manila.

“We will continue to step up and find creative ways to help the neediest and most vulnerable. Panic will not solve anything. We have the means, we just have to work together to win this battle,” the SMC executive said.

Free ethyl alcohol

The company earlier announced the production of 70-percent ethyl alcohol in one of the manufacturing facilities of Ginebra San Miguel to address the shortage of hand sanitizers and disinfectants due to high demand.

“This alcohol is ready-to-use, gentle on skin and is as effective as any regular rubbing alcohol. They also come in containers that can be returned and refilled, so that we minimize plastic wastes,” Ang said of the item that is now being delivered free in various hospitals in the National Capital Region and police checkpoints.