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- Category: Region 10
The Regional Bantay Asin Task Force of Northern Mindanao was able to implement critical initiatives supporting the ASIN Law and the “Saktong Iodine sa Asin” campaign in barely a year of being re-activated.
RBATF X was recognized by RDC X through Resolution No. 22 S. 2015 and calls for the organization of such structure at the local level (subsumed under the Local Nutrition Committees). Two Local Bantay Asin Task Forces were organized through executive orders – Misamis Occidental responding to its mild iodine deficiency disorder situation and Ozamiz City as the main entry point and center of salt supply and trading in the province.
Multi-sectoral fora were conducted all over the region for a heightened awareness on “Saktong Iodine sa Asin”. One of the most successful is the Alubijid, Misamis Oriental Local Salt Producers Forum that resulted to a unified effort among its 47 local salt producers to combat iodine deficiency. A region-wide media campaign was initiated and intensified through the development and airing of radio plugs, radio and TV guestings, development and dissemination/display of IEC materials, publication of advertorials and conduct of press briefings and conferences.
The more than 20 salt testings done by RBATF X using the WYD Iodine Checker machine donated by UNICEF further confirm the low iodine content of salt in Northern Mindanao (lowest is -2.1 ppm against the 15 ppm standards). Regular salt monitoring, intensified public information drive and continued support to local salt producers will be undertaken by the Task Force in 2016 to ensure the supply, distribution and consumption of ONLY adequately iodized salt in the region.
The Regional Bantay Asin Task Force is chaired by DOH X with the Food and Drug Administration as a major actor. mdmn
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- Category: Region 10
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
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- Category: Region 10
The RDC X Social Development Committee agreed to favorably endorse to the Regional Development Council X a strategy on nutrition improvement in Northern Mindanao as proposed by the National Nutrition Council X. The LGU Mobilization Strategy on Nutrition Improvement in Northern Mindanao will mobilize the seven Nutrition Honor Awardees of Region X to mentor other local government units for positive outcomes in nutrition.
As presented by NNC X NPC Marissa DM. Navales during the November 12 SDC meeting, the LGU Mobilization Strategy will tap performing local government units, through the Local Nutrition Committee (LNC) , to mentor LGUs falling under the following categories: top nutritionally depressed based on the prevalence of undernutrition using the OPT Plus results; OPT Plus coverage of below 50%; LGUs without local nutrition action plan and/or LNC ; LGUs with LNCs rated as non or partially functional. A core team composed of at least five (5) members from the LNCs supported by a member of the Regional Technical Working Group will constitute the Mentoring Team.
The strategy will employ a two-pronged mentoring approach - on-site mentoring (theory building and application; learning visits and experiential learning) and on-line mentoring using Facebook as platform.
The Strategy was initially launched during the Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony held on November 6, 2015 and gained the backing of local chief executives as they pledged commitment and signed the Commitment Form during the ceremony. Prior to the launch, the Regional Nutrition Committee X issued Resolution No. 1 dated June 17, 2015 approving the Strategy and adopting the guidelines for implementation.
Read more: NORTHERN MINDANAO VOWS TO IMPROVE NUTRITION AS ONE REGION
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- Category: Region 10
Starting December 2, 2015, ABS-CBN Northern Mindanao’s morning TV show, Pamahaw Espesyal will feature a new nutrition segment “Busog Trip” in partnership with the National Nutrition Council X. The airing of the segment intensifies and sustains ABS-CBN and NNC X’s partnership on Promote Good Nutrition following the success of the nutrition advocacy forum during the 6th Kapamilya- Grand Serbisyo Patrol in July 24, 2015.
“Busog Trip” will be hosted by Miss Nicole Abas-Datayan with NNC X staff April Rose N. Apas and Fatima E. Villaremo acting as co-hosts. Busog Trip will be a two-minute cooking segment which will feature easy- to-prepare nutritious recipes for the Christmas season. The segment will also highlight and underscore the importance of food safety as well as the nutritional values of the recipes. Recipes to be featured in the Busog Trip segment were taken from NNC’s publications “Mga Lutuing Gulay Araw-arawin: Simple, Mura, at Masustansiya”, “Mga Piling Lutuing Itlog- Tunay na Pampalusog!” at “Mga Piling Lutuing Gulay- Masustansiya na, Masarap pa!.” The recipes MMK Munchkins (Malunggay, Munggo, Kalabasa), Egg Potato Salad and Kalabasa Pansit will be featured in the first three episodes of Busog Trip.
In addition, NNC X was also tapped as expert/resource person in ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol Northern Mindanao 30-seconder “For Your Information” (FYI) segment aired last November 25. Topic was on proper weight management for adults using the Body Mass Index as indicator in support of Kumainment # 9 Panatilihin ang tamang.
Through the partnership, ABS-CBN NM commits to putting nutrition at the center of media advocacy by maximizing the potential of television as a medium of disseminating updated and appropriate information on nutrition and contributing to changing behaviour and practices of the viewing public. ABS-CBN NM is a member of NNC X’s media network MANGO DIEZ or the Media Advocates for Nutrition of GOvernance in Region X.
Both ABS-CBN NM and NNC X believe that through the help of media campaign on Promote Good Nutrition, the improvement of nutrition situation will be addressed. arna
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- Category: Region 10
BECAUSE of its efficient nutrition program management, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) recognized Camiguin province’s keypoint in improving its nutritional status of the residents in the island.
Camiguin received the Regional Green Banner Awards during the November 6, 2015 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony at the Pryce Plaza Hotel.
The Green Banner Award is the highest recognition given to local government units with excellent implementation and management of nutritional programs.
Aside from Camiguin, the city level awardee went to Gingoog; while Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon bagged the municipality level awards.
About 32 barangays from all over the region were also recognized as Barangay Green Banner Awardee for their improved nutritional status.
Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Marissa Navales said the local government units (LGUs) have big contribution to the nutrition improvement in Mindanao.
"We encourage them to join our journey in reducing the status of under-nutrition, overweight, obesity, sustaining the nutritional status of children, lactating women, as well as the persons with disabilities," Navales said.
She said the region showed a significant improvement in the reduction of under-nutrition for the past three years.
"Other LGUs are performing good, some are even performing better, this only reflect na sadya lang naman na national awardee tayo," Navales said, citing the province of Bukidnon as a certified Hall of Famer.
Read more: Camiguin bags ‘Green Banner Awards’ for Nutrition
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- Category: Region 10
The 47 local salt producers of Alubijid, Misamis Oriental pledged commitment to unify their efforts in ensuring compliance to the ASIN Law and support the Saktong Iodine sa Asin Campaign. This was one of the agreements resulting from the conduct of the Alubijid Local Salt Producers Forum on Saktong Iodine sa Asin conducted by the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force of Northern Mindanao.
To address the issue of salt iodization, a proposal in the form of livelihood assistance for the acquisition of a salt iodinating machine was prepared by the local salt producers with assistance from the Municipal Nutrition Committee and will soon be submitted to the Department of Labor and Employment Region X.
The forum held last November 4, also served as venue for the RBATF and local salt producers to openly discuss and resolve issues and concerns on the low level of awareness and compliance among the town’s salt producers to the ASIN Law or Republic Act 8172. Present during the Forum were representatives of RBATF X member agencies from DOH, DOLE, DILG, PIA, NEDA, PNP and NNC. Also present as resource persons were Julius Cesar P. Alejandre of the Nutrition Policy and Planning Division of National Nutrition Council National Office and Mr. Alexander Michael Palma, Nutrition Specialist of Unicef Philippines.
Read more: Alubijid Salt Producers Unite for Saktong Iodine sa Asin
