With NNC Calabarzon’s successful completion of its 2022 planning of activity with the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) members, one of the agreed priorities is the strengthening of the LGUs Local Bantay Asin Task Force (LBATF).

To fire up the vital participation of the LBATF in their active and efficient implementation of the National Salt Iodization Program (NSIP) and RA 8-72 or Asin Law – recognitions and awards await them in the 2022 NNC Calabarzon Annual Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (RNAC).

In the planning activity, the following were discussed: 1) Tapping of inactive member agencies through the assistance of the DILG; 2) Review of activities related to RBATF in the RPAN 2019-2022; 3) Conduct of regular meetings and salt plant monitoring; and 4) Dissemination of locally funded IEC materials to promote use of iodized salt. Henceforth, NNC arranged an orientation meeting with the RBATF in the first quarter of 2022, prior to monitoring of salt plant producers and manufacturers in the Port of Batangas.

The recent planning meeting of the NNC Calabarzon and RBATF was led by Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator, Ms. Carina Santiago and attended by the following RBATF members: Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Information Agency, Regional Maritime Unit, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Food and Drug Authority, successfully planned the activities for 2022.

The role of the LGUs is vital in the iodized salt advocacy — as the implementation of various PPAs is fully devolved in their hands as mandated by the Mandanas-Garcia Ruling. Hence, the RBATF envisions to see a functional and capable provincial, city and municipal BATFs that will monitor the quality of salts available and consumed by households in their respective communities.

The LBATFs are required to submit a semestral or quarterly report for the activities they have conducted. These are stated in the 2021 Joint DOH-DILG Calabarzon MC on “Strengthening and Organizing the LGU’s Local Bantay Asin Task Force (LBATF)” and in the DILG 2021 MC on “Strengthening and Organizing the LGU’s LBATF.”

Furthermore, to ensure proper knowledge among LBATF members, the local Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs) will be targeted for a re-orientation and training on the proper use of WYD Iodine Checkers for salt testing procedures and guidelines on the collection of salt samples. This is to ensure credibility of the iodine content data gathered from salt testing. After which, NAOs shall relay the learnings to the LBATF members and train them as well so that they are all knowledgeable and capable to conduct salt testing.

The RBATF recognizes the importance of having an established LBATF to ensure that the support, enforcement, and implementation of the NSIP and the RA 8172 is in place and there is continuous campaigning of the Saktong Iodine Sa Asin (SISA) Seal which promotes the utilization of not just iodized salt but “adequately iodized” salt among Filipino households.

By: Darrenz William M. Mateos