The Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) XII convene for its first RBATF Meeting for the year 2022 via blended platform (face-to-face and online). The meeting had a total of 21 attendees, which includes representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Education (DepEd), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD), and the provinces of Cotabato, Sarangani, and Sultan Kudarat, as well as General Santos City and Koronadal City. The activity was held in Green State Suites, Koronadal City and virtual through Zoom teleconference.
The meeting aims to (1) discuss issues and concerns on the status of ASIN law implementation (2) encourage the members to actively support and participate in all the RBATF’s upcoming endeavors (3) present the status of salt monitoring results (4) institutionalize the Salt Iodization Program in the Region. Consequently, the discussion of the meeting focuses on the following agenda: a. Review of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between RBATF XII and LGU, b. Presentation of the Report of Analysis from the Annual Post-market surveillance c. Re-orientation of functions of RBATF and LBATF d. 2022 RBATF Workplan e. Salt testing Result.
During the meeting it was reiterated to prioritize the finalization and approval of the MOU for the LGU Gen. Santos City as the main entry point of salts in the region. LGUs may also request from the secretariat for technical assistance or orientation on the RA 8172 and Bantay Asin Task Force in order to organize functional LBATF and effectively implement RA 8172. Further, DOH, NNC, FDA, and the LGU to conduct joint surprise inspection to the salt warehouse, extensive salt monitoring, and provide technical assistance at the two identified salt distributors in the region.
RNPC Retsebeth Lauihon encourages everyone to actively participate and support the endeavors identified by the task force, particularly during salt monitoring and advocacy campaign activities which will be conducted on the upcoming months. Moreover, she emphasized that eliminating IDD will pave the way for a child's optimum physical and mental growth, as well as improve the nutritional status of other vulnerable groups. (NOII Utlang/ NOIII Flores/ RNPC Laquihon)
