Health expert rejects proposal to repeal salt law

AN endocrinologist and expert in nuclear medicine has called a proposal to repeal the law requiring the iodization of salt a “preposterous” idea.

National coordinator for the Iodine Global Network Dr. Teofilo San Luis’ comments came after some lawmakers called for the junking of the law, a reason they said why the Philippine salt industry has not been able to cope with demand.

During The Manila Times forum on Healthy Lifestyle on Tuesday, San Luis said the country’s salt industry has continued to decline over the past years because of rapid urbanization, especially in coastal areas in Parañaque City, Las Piñas City and Cavite.

“Talagang ‘yung need for living quarters ng Metro Manila, talagang masa-sacrifice ‘yung salt farms, kaya ang sinusulong namin sa Kongreso, ‘yung paglaganap ng salt industry (Metro Manila’s need for living quarters will sacrifice the salt farms. That is why we are urging Congress to expand the salt industry),” he added.

San Luis also urged the government to increase investment in salt production in some parts of the country, from Ilocos in the North to areas near the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) such as Palawan.

“Sila ‘yung what we call type 1 provinces for salt farming, unlike provinces facing the Pacific Ocean, dahil iba ang climatic condition ng ating salt farms (They are the type 1 provinces for salt farming, unlike provinces facing the Pacific Ocean as their climatic condition is different),” he said.

According to him the ASIN Law or the Act promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide is the most effective instrument for resolving iodine-deficiency issues.

“Ire-repeal mo ang ASIN Law eh eto nga ang pinaka (You will repeal the ASIN Law, but it is the) effective and most efficient way through which we can get our iodine requirement,” San Luis said.

He also said the issue “has opened the mind” of the public on the importance of the law, especially with some parts of the country experiencing low median uric iodine concentration (UIC), a measurement of a person’s iodine status, with median UIC of 100 micrograms per liter the adequate intake.

Among the provinces with low median UIC are Mountain Province, Benguet, Pangasinan and Palawan in Luzon; Western Samar, Biliran, Capiz, Antique and Cebu in the Visayas; and Davao Occidental, Bukidnon, South Cotabato, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Basilan in Mindanao.

San Luis cited a survey from the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute, which said while nearly 65 percent are aware of iodized salt, only 58 percent use it and only 33 percent use it adequately.

Lack of iodine in the body, he said, may not only lead to goiter, but also hypothyroidism, impaired mental function and even reproductive failure.

This, San Luis added, could also lead to impaired neurological function in newborn kids if the mothers do not take iodine during their pregnancy.

“We now have to start thinking beyond goiter but also start focusing on the brain development of children,” he said.

To combat iodine deficiency in the country, San Luis created a “Thyromobile,” a van that not only provides free thyroid testing and thyroid ultrasound, but also free iodized oil tablets in areas with low iodine concentration.

The TMT Health Forum was presented by the Manila Doctors Hospital and was supported by organizational partners British Chamber of Commerce Philippines, Chamber of Commerce and Industry France Philippines, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., Financial Executives of the Philippines, Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines Inc., Management Association of the Philippines, She Talks Peace, Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association Inc., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PCCI-National Capital Region, NordCham Philippines, Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines.

The Manila Times TV was the official media partner of the forum.