AS THE prices of “hot pan de sal” and other bread products are expected to increase in the ensuing days because of the shortage in the supply of wheat, the search for alternative wheat and extenders has also intensified.

Possible alternatives to wheat, according to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), are vitamin A-rich bakery products such as buns and loaf bread or hot pan de sal with squash.

Vitamin A-rich bakery products, according to the FNRI, could also address the perennial malnutrition problems that afflict millions of Filipinos in the country.

Using squash purée—the squash that are cooked and mashed as extender or additive to wheat—bakers can cut their wheat consumption by up to 35 percent.

Using powdered squash, wheat consumption can be cut by up to 12 percent, according to the FNRI.

By using squash, the price of hot pan de sal can be cheaper.  One pan de sal with squash costs only P2, compared with the ordinary pan de sal of the same size, which now costs P2.50 per 22 to 25 mg.

Local bakers are planning to increase the cost of pan de sal to P3.50 in the ensuing days because of the increase in the price of wheat in the world market.

Locally known as kalabasa, squash is now being used by a local bakery in Subic, Zambales, as a major ingredient of buns, loaf bread and their special hot pan de sal.

E.J. Baker, based in Subic, was provided technical assistance by the FNRI-DOST in producing the bakery products which are primarily intended for malnourished primary school children.

FNRI director Dr. Mario Capanzana said one of the malnutrition problems which  is still of public health significance is vitamin A deficiency. 

Citing the 2003 National Nutrition Survey by the FNRI-DOST, there are 40 out of 100 children, aged 6 months to 5, who are suffering from vitamin A deficiency.

Likewise, 36 out of 100 children, between 6 and 12 years old, also suffer from vitamin A deficiency.

DAVAO CITY—At past lunchtime, rice retailer Rosario Perez knows that she would be in for another grueling day, a few hours actually, at the parish’s outlet for National Food Authority (NFA)-retailed rice imports in barangay Talomo in the southern part of this city.

AS THE prices of “hot pan de sal” and other bread products are expected to increase in the ensuing days because of the shortage in the supply of wheat, the search for alternative wheat and extenders has also intensified.

THE debilitating effect of the continued rise of fuel products in the world market has now affected the airline industry, forcing local and international air carriers to request for an upward revision of their fuel surcharges from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

PRESIDENT Arroyo on Monday appealed to the Senate to ratify the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) as without it, the country stands to lose as much as P365 billion in foreign direct investments  (FDIs) from Japan that may be channeled to other Philippine competitors in the region.

THE Philippines risks losing foreign direct investments (FDIs) due to international perception of worsening corruption in the country, Sen. Loren Legarda warned Monday.

A GERMAN trade mission informed President Arroyo on Monday that German businessmen are interested in investing in medical tourism, maritime personnel development and microfinance in the Philippines.

THE validity of the claim of publicly traded Oriental Peninsula Resources Group on two mining sites in Palawan is being questioned by the indigenous peoples residing in these areas, saying they have not given the company permission to conduct mining activities as required by law.

PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) is reopening its hub in Cebu to house its nine Bombardier turbo-prop fleet.