BUTUAN City – In a meeting conducted on 17 November 2021, the National Nutrition Council Caraga pushed for the creation of the local Bantay Asin Task Force in order to strengthens the implementation of the ASIN Law.

The discussion happened during the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force at Almont Inland Resort where around fifteen (15) of its members attended.

In his welcome message, OIC NPC Dr. Nino Archie Labordo shared that the functions of the Task Force are relevant in making the nutrition landscape of Caraga a better one. He includes to cite the role to monitor the progress and assess the overall implementation of RA 8172.

Republic Act No. 8172 or the “An Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide and For Related Purposes” also known as the ASIN Law that was enacted in 1995 requires iodization of all food-grade salt for human and animal consumption.

Currently, the members of the RBATF in Caraga is joined in by representatives of the different provincial and city units. However, with the National Salt Iodization Program guidelines, the Regional BTAF shall now be composed of representatives similarly coming from the Technical Working Group- National Salt Iodization Program (TWG-NSIP) member-agencies at the national level.

The RBATF agreed to support creation of local BTAF who will coordinate and coordinate on the implementation of the ASIN law at the local level.

The implementation of the ASIN law is guided by the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition that reinforces the advocacy in battling the problem on micronutrient deficiencies. # ASAtienza/NASLabordo