THE House-approved bill seeking to revitalize the salt industry will put flesh to President Marcos Jr.’s’ goal for the sector to get back on its feet under his administration, one of the bill’s principal authors said yesterday.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said House Bill (HB) 8278 aims to revitalize the once thriving sector, the current domestic production of which “has plunged so low that the archipelagic Philippines with its expansive coastlines now imports about 90 percent of its annual salt requirement.”
“Our goal is for the 19th Congress to help the Marcos administration revitalize the local salt industry by providing it with the right government support services for its protection and direction, specifically those that involve production and development,” said Villafuerte.
With 287 votes, the House on Monday night approved HBN 8278 or the proposed Philippine Salt Industry Development Act which seeks the creation of a comprehensive development plan that would benefit industry players.
“Considering the expansive coastlines of the Philippines, it truly baffles us why our archipelago was reported in 2021 to be producing only seven percent of the national salt requirement and importing the other 93% equivalent to around 550,000 metric tons (MT),” Villafuerte said. “Hence, we are hoping that new legislation would enable our moribund salt industry to become competitive once more in both the domestic and international markets.”
Under the measure, salt, whether unprocessed or processed, is classified as a basic agricultural product with all its necessary legal and regulatory implications.
“The DA shall also ensure that salt is a priority commodity to be produced locally in areas or regions identified in this Act, as well as in the development plan for the salt industry,” the bill read.
A key provision under HB.8278 is the creation of the Philippine Salt Industry Development Council (PSIDC), which will be tasked to formulate the Philippine Salt Industry Development Roadmap containing the short-term, medium-term, and long-term development plan. It will also identify specific and priority programs and projects in support of, and in line with the roadmap.
It will also provide development funds, technical assistance, and equipment to salt farmers and the industry. The support shall be commensurate to the size of the salt farm.
Through the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the PSIDC will put up new small scale artisanal salt farms.
