.webp)
WITH OR WITHOUT SALT A local salt maker continues to produce salt in some salt beds in Barangay Sta. Isabel, Kawit, Cavite on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. The Department of Trade and Industry said there is enough supply of salt in the country. PHOTO BY DENNIS ABRINA
By Bella Cariaso, Manila Times
AN OFFICIAL of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday admitted that the country is not producing enough salt, resulting in the importation of at least 93 percent of its requirement.
During the hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, DA Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said the country outsources most of the salt supply in the local market.
"As far as local production is concerned, admittedly we are not producing enough. The DTI is looking at the supply situation from a different perspective that they factored in importation, that is why they say we have enough but as far as DA is concerned, we must improve our production for us to meet our demand requirements," Evangelista said.
She added that salt makers stopped their operation when their business was affected by various issues, including the lower price of salt.
"We are looking into the production and yield of salt. This will also help our fisherfolks. This can also be another revenue for them. The BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) has a program to help our fisherfolk. I also requested a roadmap for our salt industry," Evangelista said.
"Aside from identifying areas for production, there will always be a need as far as technology is concerned for our marginalized fisherfolks and for them to improve their production level," she added.
Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. President Danilo Fausto earlier said local salt producers were adversely affected by the Republic Act 8172 or the "Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide" (ASIN).
Fausto said that the Department of Trade and Industry failed to comply with ASIN which mandates the agency to assist and support local salt manufacturers in upgrading their production technologies by helping them obtain soft loans and financial assistance for the procurement of iodization machines.
Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo said he filed House Bill 1976 to revive the local salt industry.
PH imports 93% salt needs – Agri group
"We need to ensure comprehensive measures to uplift and revive the salt industry. Otherwise, we will see a completely dead salt industry," Salo said.
The country's yearly salt requirement is pegged at 600,000 metric tons.
In 2021, the country imported 647,000 metric tons of salt — 72 percent from Australia and 18.7 percent from China.
