BAGUIO CITY, Feb. 21 (PIA) - - Regional line agencies that compose the Cordillera Bantay ASIN Task Force will push for stronger partnership among stakeholders to increase awareness and use of iodized salt and to ensure iodization of salt being sold in the region.
In a forum last Thursday, the task force members agreed to press for stronger ties among member agencies, local government units in the six provinces and Baguio city, salt traders and salt repackers in line with their goal to achieve 100 percent awareness and usage of iodized salt among Cordillerans pursuant to the ASIN Law and the National Salt Iodization Program (NSIP).
Bella Basalong of the National Nutrition Council in the region shared that based on the 2011 Food and Nutrition Research Institute survey, awareness on iodized salt among Filipino households stands at 78.7 percent but national average of usage is only 59.3 percent.
For Cordillera, FNRI data shows an 89.3 percent awareness, while usage of iodized salt is at 73.3 percent.
At the provincial level, awareness on iodized salt is high at around 92 percent in Benguet and Mountain Province but low as 60.5 and 70.7 percent in Kalinga and Apayao, respectively.
For usage, Kalinga posted the highest average at 79.6%, followed by Benguet at 77.8%. Abra posted the lowest usage at 50.1%.
Such statistics, prompted the regional ASIN Task Force to re-convene with the Department of Health as the lead agency and NNC as the governing board. Other member agencies are the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Education, Technology Research Center, Department of Education, national Economic and Development Authority, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine Information Agency and Philippine National Police.
The Task force general objective is to ensure the sustainability of the implementation of the ASIN law and to ensure the iodization of all salt being sold or traded in this part of the country to help address the concern on Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), especially among pregnant and lactating mothers.
The ASIN Law or Republic Act 8172 mandates all traded or distributed food grade-salt, whether locally produced or imported, should be iodized. It also mandates the use of iodized salt for processed food and in food establishment.
The NSIP, on the other hand, aims to achieve at least 90 percent of all households in the country use iodized salt. by CARLITO DAR
