TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYAN- Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF-R02) warns the public with the increasing number of uniodized salt in nearby region as revealed by the inspection of Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) last June 9 at Ilocos Norte.

Strengthened RBATF headed by Ms. Rhodora Maestre, NPC of NNC R-02 and Mr. Alexander Michael Palma, Development Consultant of UNICEF together with its monitoring teams from the different government agencies and Local Government Units, organized the conduct of the said inspection.

RBATF discovered in a salt factory located at Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte the insufficient amount of iodine in the salt that they are producing. Based from the tests administered by RBATF, it revealed the salt products only contain 0.5ppm of iodine content which is lower than the prescribed 30ppm and above iodine content. According to reports, insufficiency of iodine in salt products can pose a health risk to a person which results to Iodine Deficiency Syndrome or IDS.

However, RBATF learned that the salt factory imports uniodized salt products from big salt producers in the country. The imported goods are then processed or cooked to heave which eventually yields the factory to a higher income. But to the dismay of RBATF, sanitary standards of products are sacrificed. Workers work in a very high temperature causing them to sweat more and with the absence of sanitary gears sweat can be mixed in the salt production. The team also found out that other major salt production in the area are practicing the same etiquette in their production, hence giving more risk to the region in its mandates of iodization of salt.

In an interview with the owner of the factory (who wished not to be named), she exposed that they re-cook their salt to gain more profit because the volume of their products multiply through this manner. She also promised that there will be a renovation in the workplace to provide a more hygienic working place for their salt production.

Moreover, according to RBATF the low amount of iodine in their salt products is caused by manual way (e.g. spraying and shoveling) of adding iodine in the said products. So, the group suggested the owner to increase more iodine content in their salt products. In addition, the team also emphasized to the owner about the importance of the proper amount of iodine present in salt.

On the other hand, the group went to a nearby town of Burgos where majority of the people are selling salts for their living. However, the team found more alarming state which most of the stalls in the town are not practicing salt iodization. They also discovered tons of uniodized salt are displayed in their stores and consumers have an easy access upon this. Furthermore, in an interview with the owner, he revealed that most of their customers are bagoong producers and some are from Region 2, giving more risk in the strengthened bantay asin program of the task force.

In contrast, the team is more determined to end the cause of the problem rather than risking the lives of its constituents. As a result, Memorandum of Agreement will be bridged between the LGU of both regions to ensure the strict monitoring and proper implementation of the existing rules and regulation in salt iodization. Likewise, team will mandate each salt producer to issue official receipt for proper identification in case problem will arise. Furthermore, checkpoints are advised to strictly monitor every salt cargo and test its iodine content to guarantee that only iodized should be present in the region.

Lastly, vast information drive campaign will be planned in order to inform the public of what are the benefits of using iodize salt at the same time the disadvantage of patronizing uniodize salt. In addition, bagoong producers will be informed that iodize salt will not spoil their product rather enhance its nutrients content as stated by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources researches. In conclusion, Maestre stressed that proper punishment will be given to offenders at the same time emphasized that no uniodized salt are to be distributed in the region.