The Misamis Occidental Bantay Asin Task Force was alarmed over the low iodine content of salt being sold in the public markets and grocery stores as revealed during the first salt testing conducted by the Task Force using the WYD iodine checker machine. This triggered for the establishment of mechanisms on the control and monitoring of distribution of adequately iodized salt in the province with the help of the Bantay Asin Task Force members particularly the Integrated Provincial Health Office, Provincial Nutrition Office, Philippine Coast Guard and the Provincial Maritime Police. The mechanism will ensure that the production, trading and distribution of adequately iodized salt in the Province will be strictly monitored (in all points of entry).
It can be recalled that the Provincial Bantay Asin Task Force (PBATF) of Misamis Occidental was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 12-2015 as one of their responses to address mild iodine deficiency disorder (IDD). Misamis Occidental is listed as among the provinces in the Philippines with mild IDD among 6-12 years old children in the 2013 8th National Nutrition Survey conducted by FNRI-DOST. hge
