Adding local muscle to the national Filipino campaign for iodized salt, the town of Siayan in Zamboanga del Norte has enacted a municipal ordinance requiring grocers and restaurants to sell and use iodozed salt, reports the Philippine Information Agency. The mayor is forming a team to monitor compliance; penalties include incarceration. Siayan is the poorest town in the country and suffers severe iodine deficiencies.

"Municipal Ordinance No. 11-05 sought the support of the store owners and restaurant operators to the government’s salt iodization program to address iodine deficiency disorder as suffered by some of the residents of municipality more particularly those living in the far-flung barangays.

"Siayan is an interior municipality of Zamboanga del Norte and has been tagged as the poorest town in the country based on the report issued by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

"Reports released by the Municipal Health Office (MHO) also showed that a number of people in the municipality especially those living in far-flung barangays are suffering from iodine deficiency disorder. (JPA/FPG/PIA-Zambo. Norte)"