To support the National Salt Iodization Program in the country, Honorable Esterlina Aguinaldo signed Executive Order No. 2015-19 creating Sta. Praxedes Municipal Bantay Asin Task Force that will be mandated to check and monitor the quality of salt being transported to Cagayan from the nearby municipalities of Region 1, last November 18 in the Special Meeting of MBATF in Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan.

Though the municipality started monitoring early this year there is no formal and legal basis of their formation that resulted to lack of foundation in the said MBATF. However, due to the series meetings and presentations conducted by the National Nutrition Council R-02, the municipality absorbed the importance of the National Salt Iodization Program. As a result, this paved way to the signed executive order which was presented during the special meeting of Municipal Bantay Asin Task Force in the said municipality.

On the other hand, the MBATF, through SPO1 Regandy Pascual, ASIN Checkpoint Personnel, monitored a total of 2, 260kgs of salt which fortunately passed the >30ppm as a requirement of Iodine Content in the ASIN LAW. This is through the concerted efforts of the members of MBATF from January- November 2015. This will likely to improve now because of the signed EO by Mayor Aguinaldo.
Rhodora Maestre, Nutrition Program Coordinator NNC-R02, express here gratitude to this move done by Mayor Aguinaldo. She states that this EO will be a great help not only to their municipality but in the entire region in its campaign to promote adequately iodized salt. On the other hand, Mayor Aguinaldo thanked the agency in its effort in leading the reorganization and at the same time in ensuring that the MBATF will be functional.

Lastly, the NNC R-02 is planning to reorganize and further strengthen the checkpoint located at Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya to properly ensure that only adequately iodized salt will be transported in the region.