DIFFUN, Quirino, March 1 (PIA) — Tubig Talino bottled water, an iodine-rich drinking water, is now being produced and sold in this town, particularly at the Watah! H2O Purified Water Station located at barangay Andres Bonifacio.

Tubig Talino, one of the developed technologies of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), is now available for commercialization to interested private entrepreneurs to enable water-refilling station to produce iodine-rich drinking water for their clients.

Tubig Talino aims to boost the government’s Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) control program as IDD is one of the prevalent micro-nutrient deficiencies in the Philippines.

Studies show that iodine prevents goiter, mental and physical retardation, and brain defects, and also contributes to the solution of iodine deficiency anemia problems among the populace especially the children.

The Tubig Talino technology was transferred by FNRI experts to Watah! on October 23, 2012 through intensive skills training. A memorandum of agreement was signed also among the FNRI, DOST Region 2, and the owner of the water refilling station on the adoption of the Tubig Talino technology.

Watah! H2O Purified Water Station was a beneficiary of the DOST Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program, which is the banner program of the DOST in supporting the development of existing small and medium enterprises.

Engr. Jonathan R. Nuestro, OIC-Provincial Science and Technology Director of DOST-Quirino assured close monitoring to the production center and the conduct of water testing every month to assure quality and safe drinking water to the public.

The testing will be done by the DOST Regional Standard and Testing Laboratory, the first ever ISO accredited laboratory in the region.