Gov’t works double time to address salt industry woes

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Government agencies led by the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) are “working double time” to address the pre-existing problems in the country’s salt production industry and eventually enable it to become self-sufficient.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, in a Facebook post, said the country has been importing 93 percent of its salt supply which is “an unfortunate circumstance” as the country boasts of having 36,000 kilometers of shoreline.

Angeles cited various factors that led to the low production of salt in the country: low-quality control and stunted product improvement; lack of innovation and interventions; low enterprise and investment opportunities; and the failure of the salt industry to adapt to the challenges caused by the global climate change, food safety standards and quality requirements, and tariff reduction.

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She said the industry also failed to meet the mandatory iodization imposed under the Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN) Law.

ASIN Law requires the addition of iodine to all salt intended for animal and human consumption to eliminate micronutrient malnutrition in the country.

Angeles said the DA, which is concurrently headed by President Marcos Jr., has been looking at different initiatives and measures to boost production of salt in the country and eventually supply the requirements of both commercial and industry users.

“The national government is now working double time to beef-up support for the salt industry to enhance the production of the local salt in the country. The Department of Agriculture together with the government agencies have already initial plans in place,” she said.

Angeles said the plans include the DA and BFAR leading various research and development activities and provide technical assistance to marginal and artisanal salt makers.

She said that last year, BFAR and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute already started the P100-million Development of the Salt Industry Project (DSIP) which is being implemented in the regions of Ilocos, Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Angeles said the government is now looking at expanding the DSIP production areas to other places; developing and using technologies such as evaporation systems and the use of various machineries to accelerate the production of salt; and providing salt makers with facilities for processing, packaging and value adding under a co-sharing agreement.

She said this aims to “increase salt production and produce excellent quality of salt through enhancement and improvement of the different methods and practices on salt production, and product compliance to food safety standards.”

Angeles said the DA, meanwhile, will also collaborate with national agencies including the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure the implementation of the ASIN Law.

Under the law, DENR shall identify areas that are suitable for use as salt farms with the purpose of protecting such areas from environmental risks to ensure sustainability of iodized salt production.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will assist local salt producers or manufacturers in upgrading their production technologies to include iodization by helping them obtain soft loans and financial assistance for the procurement of salt iodization machines, packaging equipment and technology, and fortificant; and ensure the systematic distribution of the iodized salt in the market.

The DTI previously approved an increase in salt prices which has been unchanged for about six years but assured there is enough supply in the country.

Danilo Fausto, president of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc., said the P100- million initial funding for local salt industry development is a “good start” but noted the ASIN law needs to be amended or repealed altogether to revive the sector.

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