Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has sought a Senate inquiry into why the Philippines, an archipelago, imports 93 percent of its salt requirements.

He said he filed Senate Resolution (SR) 100 to look into how the government could revive the country’s salt production industry to create jobs and spur economic development.

Villanueva stated that he is concerned with the recent statement from the Department of Agriculture (DA) that the Philippines cannot produce enough salt for its own needs because of government neglect over the past 15 years and now imports 93 percent of its salt requirements.

‘’“This is quite shameful for an archipelagic country with more than 36,000 kilometers of shoreline. Let’s not waste further the potential to provide jobs for Filipinos in every island in the country by reviving the salt production industry,” the senator from Bulacan said.

In addition, the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. recently said that the country currently imports 93 percent of its salt from Australia and China.

Villanueva noted that this is a stark contrast from 1990 when the country was only importing 15 percent of its salt requirements.

“I am quite salty about the state of our salt production industry. It’s not too late for the country to become a net exporter of salt,” he said.

Villanueva said that the government needs to immediately address the major hurdles to the development of the country’s salt production industry. These include the need for proper storage facilities, and lack of equipment such as water pumps and boats for hauling and storing salt.

The senator also supports the recent announcement of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to develop a roadmap for the salt industry, as introducing new strategies and providing training can generate up to 100,000 new jobs according to the agency.

“Reviving the country’s salt production industry can help solve unemployment, improve self-reliance for this basic commodity, and bring in money for the country through exports. It’s a triple win for the country,” Villanueva said.