Legazpi City –The National Nutrition Council Bicol in partnership with the Department of Health Region V and Food and Drug Administration Field Office V launched in the Bicol Region the “Saktong Iodine sa Asin” Quality Seal last 08 September 2015 at Kanzo Hall & Restaurant, Legazpi City. This is to promote usage and raise awareness on the benefits of fortification of salt as a means to increase the iodine intake of the population particularly of the at risk group thus eliminating the problem of Iodine deficiency.

The said activity was attended by more than 70 participants representing the regional government agencies such as PIA Bicol, DOST V, DA V, DSWD FO V, DepEd V, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Ports Authority, and PNP RO 5. These member agencies also comprise the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) which serves as watchdog of the distribution and supply of adequately-iodized salt through strengthened monitoring and wider dissemination of advocacies legally supported by resolutions and guidelines and complementing the initiatives of partners in the national level.

Also present were those from DOLE, DepED Albay Division, teachers of Bagtang Elementary School, BNSs, Provincial/City/Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs), District and City Nutrition Program Coordinators (DCNPCs), Bicol Regional Barangay Nutrition Scholars Association (BRBNSA, Inc.) officers and members, Bicol Media sa Nutrisyon Members, Manila Times Correspondent and ABS-CBN Legazpi who covered the celebration.

During the launching, Mr. Julius Cesar P. Alejandre, Nutrition Officer II from NNC Central Office presented the status of implementation of the National Salt Iodization Program and highlights of the 8^th National Nutrition Survey by FNRI-DOST on Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) in the country. “Salt is the ideal vehicle for providing supplemental iodine for human and animals as it is used daily and in fairly constants amounts”. He added that even after almost 20 years since the enactment of the ASIN Law in 1995,both positive and negative findings were seen in the 8^th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) conducted in 2013.

Results of the 8^thNNS showed that content of iodine in salt significantly decreased from 2003 to 2013 noting an average of only 5.6 parts per million (ppm) of iodine. This is way below the FDA recommended standards of iodine in salt in the production which is 30-70 parts per million and even the WHO recommended level of 15 parts per million in the household.

Bicol Region on the other hand has an improved IDD status in school children noting a 150 ug/L median Urinary Iodine Excretion (UIE) level and 18.7% proportion of children with less than 50 ug/L median UIE. However, the iodine content of salt in Region V is still low at 5.0 ppm and the proportion of household salt with less than 30 ppm or below FDA standards is high at 94.8%. Among the provinces in the region, Albay province is considered moderately iodine deficient among 6-12 years old school children with a prevalence of 24.3 percent. FNRI Survey also showed decreased awareness of iodized salt but with increased claimed users in the region.

There is still much to do to improve the quality of salt and to promote, advocate, monitor and regulate ASIN Law and the National Salt Iodization Program. In the Bicol region, the RBATF will work hard to make sure that only adequately-iodized salt from the market are sold and available to the households.