The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Mimaropa region has unveiled an innovative iodine-fortified drinking water product designed to address nutritional deficiencies among Filipinos while offering a new business opportunity for Pinoy entrepreneurs.

Dubbed “Tubig Talino” or “Smart Water,” the product combines purified or potable water with Water Plus I2, a premix containing iodine that will supplement the essential mineral often lacking in Filipino diets.

According to DOST-Mimaropa, iodine is crucial for producing thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism in adults and support growth and brain development in children, particularly during fetal development and early childhood.

“Since the body cannot produce iodine naturally, consuming iodine-rich food and beverages is essential for maintaining good health,” DOST said in promotional materials.

The product’s formulation allows just five glasses of Tubig Talino to provide 33% of the daily iodine requirement for an adult Filipino, making it an accessible way to address nutritional gaps.

The agency is offering the innovation to water refilling stations and water bottling companies, with investment packages ranging from P770,000 to P1 million for equipment capable of producing 12.5 gallons of iodine premix daily.

The business model includes a technology licensing fee of P15,000 with a 2% royalty fee based on gross sales.

Interested entrepreneurs need approximately 50 square meters of space and at least two workers to operate the facility.

The retail price is set at P35-40 per five gallons of Tubig Talino, making it competitively priced within the bottled water market.

Water refilling stations and beverage companies interested in adopting the technology can contact DOST-Mimaropa at their office in the DOST-PTRI Building on General Santos Avenue, Taguig City, or reach them at (02) 8837-3755, or email at official@mimaropa.dost.gov.ph.