In an online meeting held on February 19, 2021, all the 17 local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila assured that the monitoring of iodized salt will continue despite the pandemic. The focal coordinators of the Local Bantay Asin Task Forces (LBATFs) will continue monitoring retail stores to ensure that only iodized salt is sold and will be utilized by households in Metro Manila. Twelve (12) LGUs will do salt testing using the WYD iodine checker machine provided by UNICEF while the rest have their own iodine checker machine to use.  The cities of Parañaque, Mandaluyong, Taguig, Muntinlupa, and Navotas procured their own iodine checker machine for salt testing and monitoring. 

The LBATF is the counterpart of the Regional Salt Iodization Program-Technical Working Group or the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RSIP/RBATF) in NCR that work for the strict implementation of the Republic Act 8172 entitled “An Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide and for Related Purposes” also known as the ASIN Law in the region. The ASIN Law aims to contribute to the elimination of micronutrient malnutrition in the country, particularly iodine deficiency disorders, through the cost-effective preventive measure of salt iodization.  The law requires all food outlets, restaurants, and stores to make available to consumer only iodized salt in their establishment and that the iodized salt should conform to the standards set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

In her message, Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo reminded the group to include LBATF activities in their local nutrition action plans (LNAPs) to ensure budgetary allocation. “Isang responsibility ng LGU ay bigyan ng budget ang Salt Iodization Program (SIP) dahil ito ay bahagi ng Food Fortification Program ng Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN). Importante na maisama ang SIP activities sa LNAP para mabigyan ito ng kaukulang pondo para sa mahusay na implementasyon nito”.

In support of the implementation of SIP, NNC-NCR distributed sticker posters with the message “Goiter Sugpuin, Isip Patalinuhin, Iodized Salt Gamitin – Asin na may tatak Saktong Iodine sa Asin ang gamitin!” to all the cities and municipalities in the region. “Ito ay bahagi ng ating promotion to encourage consumers to buy and use iodized salt”, said NPC Federizo.  During the meeting, the focal coordinators shared that they have started posting stickers in retail stores selling iodized salt through the help of their Barangay Nutrition Scholars.

With the combined efforts of the LBATFs in the 17 LGUs in Metro Manila, NNC-NCR is optimistic that more and more households in Metro Manila will be using iodized salt as a cost-effective measure to prevent Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD). 

Goiter Sugpuin, Isip Patalinuhin, Iodized Salt Gamitin – Asin na may tatak Saktong Iodine sa Asin ang gamitin!


Written by: NOIII Emerenciana L. Francia and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo