Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (Facebook)

Did you know that the Philippines--despite its extensive coastlines--imports nearly 550,000 metric tons (MT) or 93 percent of its requirement for salt? As such, congressmen led by Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte, through a House bill (HB), are seeking the creation of an interagency Philippine Salt Industry Development Council (PSIDC) that would turn things around for the local industry. “HB No.7357 seeks to make the Philippine salt industry competitive in the domestic and international markets...It addresses the revitalization of the local industry by providing the right government support services for its protection and direction, specifically those that involve production and development,” Villafuerte said. Villafuerte traced the local salt-making industry back to the 18th century, saying there was a time when Las Piñas and Malabon were the top salt producers before Pangasinan eventually became the country’s leading area for salt production. “Considering the expansive coastlines of the Philippines, it has become a surprise why our archipelago was reported in 2021 to be producing only 7 percent of the national salt requirement and importing the other 93 percent equivalent to around 550,000 MT,” noted the majority leader of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA). But the veteran solon did note in his measure that “The capital requirement for the machinery and technology for salt  iodization was a heavy burden for local salt makers, leading many of  them to drop one by one and shift to other livelihood  sources." Camarines Sur Reps. Miguel Luis Villafuerte (5th district) and Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata (1st district), and Bicol Saro Party-listRep. Brian Yamsuan co-authored the bill. The PSIDC is tasked to craft a five-year masterplan to expand areas devoted to salt-making, boost domestic salt output, promote investments in this sector and market Philippine products made from this essential nutrient, among others. It is also directed to require the use of locally-produced salt in the fertilization of coconut farms by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA); extend technical and financial assistance in the local design and fabrication of high-capacity processing equipment  for this industry; develop categories of salt-farming  areas into places for artisan salt production, gourmet salt production, iodized salt production and salt ecotourism sites; and provide continuous training and capacity-building in salt industry development. An initial amount of P100 million, to be sourced from the contingency fund of the Office of the President (OP), shall be used to fund the first year of the proposed law. Additionally, an amount of P100 million shall be sourced from the revenues of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) for the effective implementation of this Act, also for its first year of implementation. After that, the bill states that the amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). HB No.7357 provides for the establishment of provincial, city, and municipal Salt Industry Development Councils (SIDCs) that shall regularly conduct a survey of existing salt farms and salt enterprises in their respective areas of jurisdiction. The PSIDC shall have the secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), as chairperson; secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), as co-chairperson; and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director as vice chairperson. The other PSIDC members are the: secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); secretary of the Department of Health (DOH); Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT); the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP); one representative each from the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) and League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP); one representative each from salt farmers, salt manufacturers, and salt processing  associations; and one representative from the private sector involved in a business belonging to the salt industry. The bill directs the BFAR to be the Secretariat of the PSIDC, and to organize the necessary technical working group (TWG) for the council. It mandates the council to “provide the overall policy and program directions and coordinate the activities of the various agencies and instrumentalities to ensure the implementation, accomplishment, periodic review and enhancement of the Roadmap".