The Regional Bantay Asin Task Forces (RBATF) of Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region vowed for a stricter monitoring on the compliance to RA 8172 or “An Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide” after several salt samples from the market and households tested negative or low in iodine content using the iodine checker machine. This was concluded during the joint meeting of the RBATF of Region I and CAR with the Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) members and Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAOs) of Abra and representatives from the Provincial Health and Nutrition Office of Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur held last November 8-9, 2016 at Gordion Hotel, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.

The province of Abra was invited in the meeting having a very high percentage of 41.7% school children with Urinary Iodine Excretion (UIE) below 50 micrograms per deciliter based on the National Nutrition Survey which is higher compared to the National Salt Iodization Program target of below 20% and with median UIE of 70 micrograms per deciliter which is lower compared to the cut-off of atleast 100ug/dL to be considered as adequate iodine nutrition. On the other hand, Pangasinan was also invited as one of the salt producing provinces in region 1. Salts distributed in Northern Luzon mostly come from the provinces of Region I.

The joint meeting was a commitment of both regions to harmonize efforts in addressing challenges along the National Salt Iodization Program and to ensure full compliance of small and big scale salt producers and concerned stakeholders of RA 8172.

Challenges include the marketing and distribution of uniodized and inadequately iodized salt in the market, presence of unregistered small scale salt producers distributing uniodized salt, inadequate and unavailability of logistics for salt monitoring, untrained manpower, inadequate capacity building among salt producers and, decreased household awareness on the importance of iodized salt.

It was agreed for both regions to intensify its massive promotion and advocacy on salt iodization to increase awareness of all households on the importance of iodized salt and for Region I to continue monitoring salt producers in the region. DOH and NNC to provide capacity building activities and technical support, FDA to strictly regulate and enforce the law. KPAG