INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Raffy Tulfo raised concern about the high level of sodium in instant noodles and canned sardines.
During the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) budget hearing on Monday, Tulfo said that some poor Filipinos consume instant noodles and canned sardines daily because of their affordable prices.
Noting the health risk of high sodium content consumption, Tulfo asked the DTI if they could request manufacturers to reduce the sodium level.
“Dangerous and hazardous po ‘yan sa kalusugan ng mga mamamayan and yet, it continues. It goes on and on and on.
(Those are dangerous and hazardous to people’s health, yet it continues. It goes on and on and on.)
“Wala pong nagsasalita from DTI na, ‘yes, tama nga po kayo. Hey, manufacturers, babaan niyo po ‘yung sodium content niyan,’” the neophyte senator said.
(No one from DTI would say, “yes, you are right. Hey, manufacturers, lower the sodium content of those products.”)
DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual, however, said that the Food and Drug Administration is the agency responsible for the matter.
“We realized that the issues raised were very important. Hopefully, I wish we acted on this but unfortunately, Mr. Your honor, the responsibilities that you raised does not fall on DTI but rather on Food and Drug Administration,” Pascual said.
Tulfo did not like Pascual’s response. He urged the DTI to take action.
“Tuwing magkakaroon po tayo ng hearing… nagtuturuan po kayo. Nagtuturuan. Nakakalungkot po ito. Walang gustong umamin, wala pong gustong umako.
(Whenever we have hearings, everyone starts finger-pointing. It makes me sad. Nobody wants to admit and take responsibility.)
Pascual then committed to deferring the matter to the concerned departments.
“We will take this up with the concerned agency with whom we’re working when it comes to consumer protection,” the chief said.
—with reports from Kristelle Razon, INQUIRER.net trainee