National Nutrition Council Region 6 organized a Bantay Asin Task Force Orientation Briefing and Workshop last November 10-11, 2016 at Punta Villa Resort, Arevalo, Iloilo City.

The goal of the orientation briefing is to strengthen the organization that will lookout for the proper implementation of the ASIN Law, also known as Republic Act 8172, which was formulated to address problems arising from lack of iodine in the diet.

Mr. Julius Caesar Alejandre from the Nutrition Policy an d Planning division of NNC Central Office discussed the purpose and the composition of Bantay Asin Task Force. He emphasized the importance of the presence of the RBATF. NOII Sheryl Sedantes,on the other hand, gave the statistics of the nutrition situation in Region VI.

During the workshop, participants were grouped in order to come up with their plans for the organization, including advocacy plans, policy formulation and program management.

Issues concerning the iodization of salt that may be affecting the results of the survey regarding the use of iodized salt in the region were brought up by the participants.

The said activity was attended by representatives from the different concerned regional agencies including National Nutrition Council Region 6 headed by Nutrition Program Coordinator Nona Tad-y, and representatives from Department of Health, UPV-BIDANI, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Coast Guard, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Science and Technology, National Food Auhtority, Philippine Information Agency and Department of Environment and Natural Resources.