AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee (Rep. Lee's office)

The Philippines is now on its way to dropping its reputation of being a major improper of salt. 

Thus, said AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee, as he hailed the signing into law of the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, which he principally authored. 

"With proper monitoring and implementation, we can achieve our ultimate goal to be salt self-sufficient and become a net exporter of salt. We can now avoid having to import 500,000 metric tons of salt every year, or more than 90 percent of the country’s salt requirement,” Lee said. 

Signed into law on March 11, 2024, the measure aims to revitalize the salt industry and address the need for employment in rural areas. 

Lee said the revival of the salt industry will generate thousands of new jobs, particularly in the countryside and coastal communities. 

“Through this landmark legislation, aside from encouraging investments and increasing local salt production through the expansion of existing and idle salt farms, we will also boost capacity building for salt farmers and strengthen market linkages,” he noted. 

Under the new law, a comprehensive Salt Roadmap shall be established to implement programs, projects and interventions for the development and management, research, processing, utilization, business modernization and commercialization of the Philippine salt. 

"Our work does not end with the signing of this measure into law. We need to ensure its proper and effective implementation," the rookie solon said.