The Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) XII will ramp up its planned activities particularly on monitoring the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 8172 also known as “An Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide and for related purposes” or ASIN law. All food-grade salt for human and animal consumption is required to be iodized under the law. Moreover, the purpose of the monitoring activity is to assess the progress and the overall implementation of RA 8172 at the local level and to provide technical assistance to the City Bantay Asin Task Force (CBATF).
On November 19, 2021, in General Santos City, a monitoring activity was conducted and joined by 20 RBATF and CBATF members. The same activity shall be conducted in Kidapawan City on November 26, 2021. The two Local Government Units (LGU) were the only LGUs in the region who initiated creation of Localized Bantay Asin Task Force (LBATF), hence support and technical assistance from the RBATF is needed to strengthen the local task force.
NO II Utlang presented and discussed the National Salt Iodization Program Guidelines on the Local Level Salt Iodization Program Monitoring – background, objectives, mechanics, CBATF composition, duties and responsibilities, suggested schedule and frequency of salt monitoring and evaluation and the areas to be visited, as well as the MOU between the RBATF and the LGU for their information and comments. Additionally, the RBATF and CBATF conducted joint salt monitoring in public market, selected food enterprises and salt traders. The salt samples were then checked using the WYD iodine checker machine to check if they contain the standard level of iodine, which is 30-70 parts per million (ppm).
RBATF XII recommends to re-organize the CBATF of Gen. Santos City and follow the CBATF composition stipulated in the guidelines and to include in the local task force the representatives from the salt industry as well other relevant organizations or business or consumer groups. The regional task force further recommends the LGU to purchase WYD iodine checker machine to monitor and regulate the quality of salt in the city. (NO II Utlang/NO III Flores/RNPC)
