October 15, 2015. Mayor Alvin Giovanni A. Labis of Alubijid, Misamis Oriental with the support of Region X Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) is convening the 36 local salt producers and traders in his municipality into a forum dubbed as “Saktong Iodine sa Asin” Forum in an effort to ensure that locally produced salt are adequately iodized. The move is part of the implementation of the Salt Iodization Law aimed at eliminating iodine deficiency disorders. The forum is set on November 4, 2015 at the Caba-Caba LGU Training Center in Alubijid. Among the more important point of discussion is on quality assurance and quality control measures in producing adequately-iodized salt.
Aside from the local salt producers and traders, Mayor Labis is also involving the officers and members of the Municipal and Barangay Nutrition Committees as critical stakeholders in the salt iodization efforts of the LGU.
The Bantay Asin Task Force of Region X chaired by DOH Regional Director Nimfa B. Torrizo, is also focusing efforts on Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental being among the provinces in the country with mild iodine deficiency disorder among 6-12 year old children. This is based on the 8th National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology. The Task Force was reactivated in November 2014 led by the National Nutrition Council X as the watchdog that will ensure only adequately iodized salt reaches the households.
Researches show that deficiency in iodine leads to goiter, abortions, congenital abnormalities, impaired mental functions among others. mdmn
