Binnadang: Piloting an Indigenous Alternative to the Emergency Nutri-Bar

The project is the production of an accessible nutrient bar (nutri-bar) as food augmentation and emergency food during disasters for the vulnerable indigenous people (IP) urban poor Tanglag Village community of Barangay Navy Base in Baguio City. It is a major upscale from commercial Nutri-bars of lesser, genetically-grown and imported ingredients and a significant evolution from the earlier pulverized “saba” banana project for a medicinal supplement that the Community Health Education, Services and Training in the Cordillera (CHESTCORE) has made. And the Nutri-bar will be scientifically tested for its health benefits.

The project will revitalize the community’s persisting strong history of struggle and community-building, survival, and resiliency practices. It is a partnership of CHESTCORE and the Tanglag Women’s Organization (TWO), owing to the women’s vital role in food sustenance.

This will be a good contribution of the women organization to their community disaster preparedness and response program, and a significant achievement for CHESTCORE in scientific, pro-poor, and community-based health programs that can be replicated in other similar IP urban poor communities and poor communities in the Cordillera countrysides as it will be diligently documented.