The Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) of Oriental Mindoro is monitoring public markets and sari-sari stores to ensure the salt they are selling contains potassium iodide or potassium iodate.

PNC personnel, through the help of Barangay Nutrition Scholars and Municipal Action Officers, are also making the rounds of households in the province to encourage residents to use iodized salt in cooking.

Health experts say a lack of iodine can affect the intelligence quotient (IQ) of an individual. A person loses 10 to 15 IQ points if he/she lacks iodine in his/her system.

To address this, the Asin Law, or Republic Act 8172, was passed in 1995. It directs all salt manufacturers, including producers, importers, traders and retailers, to iodize salt both for human and animal consumption and for food processors and food establishments to use only iodized salt.

The iodized salt program is part of Governor Arnan Panaligan’s comprehensive health agenda in Oriental Mindoro.