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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House eyes revival of PH salt industry

House eyes revival of PH salt industry

Published Oct 25, 2022 02:29 pm

Two House bills (HB) seeking to revitalize the ailing Philippine salt industry were tackled Tuesday, Oct. 25 by the House Committee on Agriculture and Food.

Salt farm (Photo courtesy of Pixabay)

HB No. 1976 filed by Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo and HB No. 5676 filed by Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee both aim to revive the local salt industry in a big way to reduce importation.

During the House panel hearing, a technical working group (TWG) was formed to hash out the concerns of salt industry stakeholders regarding the two measures.

Salo will preside over the TWG as his measure will serve as the lead bill. Quezon 1st district Rep. Mark Enverga chairs the Agriculture and Food Panel.

Lee's measure has yet to be referred to the panel but Enverga thought it appropriate to include it during the discussions.

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mentioned that the measures may have conflict with the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 8172 or the Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN Law).

“We shall endeavor to consider and resolve the concerns of the stakeholders in the TWG. If there are conflicting proposals, we will do our best to thresh them out and present them in the next hearing,” Salo said during the hearing.

In Salo’s explanatory note, he claimed that the Philippines imported about 550,000 metric tons (MTs) of salt annually, or 93 percent of its salt requirement.

“Such an irony considering that the Philippines has 36,000 kilometers of shoreline – the fifth longest shoreline in the world – which can be utilized for massive salt production,” he wrote.

Under the Salo measure that was filed last July, the government must oversee a Salt Industry Development Program and the creation of the Administration for Salt Industry Development Revitalization and Optimization (ASInDeRO).

This agency would effectively create the guidelines of the law and handle the support initiatives for salt farmers and industry stakeholders.

Lee, during the panel hearing, also sponsored his measure, which was filed on Oct. 24.

“This bill seeks to lessen our reliance on imports by providing our local salt stakeholders with ample support and protection so they can develop. We recognize that this is a long-term task, that is why we need a roadmap that will take us step by step through the years. But we have to start now,” Lee said in his bill’s explanatory note.

His measure seeks to recognize salt as an aquatic resource, thus integrating it as a function of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). It also wants to allocate P1 billion to fund research and development of salt production technology.

Salo commended Lee for his similarly-oriented measure.

“I’m very pleased that I now have a co-champion in the revitalization of the salt industry. With the Chairperson, Rep. Lee, and the other members of the Committee, I am not anymore a lone voice in the wilderness calling for the development of the local salt industry,” Salo said.

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