Pati ba naman asin? DA says PH experiencing salt shortage, to allocate P100M in 2023 to improve production
By Jel Santos
Aside from sugar, the Philippines is now also experiencing shortage of salt, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) disclosed on Tuesday, Aug. 23.
This is the reason, according to DA Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, why they will be including P100 million. in the 2023 national budget for the improvement of salt production in the country.

“Ilalagay natin sa budget ng 2023, siguro P100 million to start with nang sa ganon ay mapalawak ng ating asinan hindi ‘yung kakaunti ngayon (In the 2023 budget, we will allocate P100 million to start with in order to increase the number of our salt farms, not just a few like what we have now),” he told the Manila Bulletin during a phone interview, Tuesday, August 23.
He said the country is not only experiencing a sugar shortage but is also experiencing a shortage in the supply of salt.
According to Panganiban, the country is still importing salt. However, he did not disclose the volume of salt being imported.
He also noted that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) did not allot a budget for salt production in their proposed budget.
“Wala silang budget for salt for this year and the year before (They do not have a budget for salt for this year and the year before),” the agriculture undersecretary said.
During the administrations of Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Panganiban served as secretary of the agriculture department.