CEBU, Philippines – Talisay City Councilor Richard Francis F. Aznar, who is the chairman of the committee on health, is strongly supporting the Bantay Asin Task Force to increase awareness and use of iodized salt and to ensure iodization of salt being sold.
In a proposed resolution No. 2015-09-1, Aznar said task force general objective is to ensure the sustainability of the implementation of the Asin Law and to ensure the iodization of all salt being sold or traded in this part of the country to help address the concern on Iodine Deficiency Disorders, especially among pregnant and lactating mothers.
The ASIN Law or Republic Act 8172 mandates all traded or distributed food grade-salt, whether locally produced or imported, should be iodized. It also mandates the use of iodized salt for processed food and in food establishment.
The NSIP, on the other hand, aims to achieve at least 90 percent of all households in the country use iodized salt.
The Regional Bantay Asin Task Force of Region VII is chaired by the Food and Drug Administration and co-chaired by the National Nutrition Council VII, pushes for the manufacture, distribution and consumption of quality iodized salt region-wide in order to bolster the fight against iodine deficiency disorder.
"The iodine being an essential mineral in the body plays a vital role in health especially for a much healthier thyroid gland, metabolism and brain," Aznar added.