The dying salt industry will finally breathe new life after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Act No 11985 (An Act Strengthening and Revitalizing the Salt Industry in the Philippines, Appropriating Funds Thereof), said Senator Cynthia Villar.
Villar, principal sponsor of the bill, said this is a “welcome development” and “we thank President Marcos” for this opportunity and huge help to revive the country’s salt industry.
“This is a prayer heard for the sector’s workers and stakeholders who have been appealing to revitalize the salt industry.”
The veteran legislator said this is also a “prayer heard” for the sector’s workers and stakeholders who have been appealing to revitalize the salt industry.
Furthermore, the seasoned lawmaker said all coastal communities will be able to again produce salt.
The Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Food noted the law will address the expansion of the current salt farms concentrated in Pangasinan and Mindoro.
“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and BFAR are mandated to map out, identify, and designate public lands, including portions of municipal waters, as salt production areas within 60 days from the passage of this Act,” the lady senator said.
“Public land for salt production shall also be leased for a 25-year period, renewable for another 25 years, for use as salt farms.”
“Public land for salt production shall also be leased for a 25-year period, renewable for another 25 years, for use as salt farms. For this purpose, BFAR shall issue the Salt Production Tenurial Instrument where cooperatives and associations of subsistence and small producers and farmers shall be given preferential treatment,” she added.
According to Villar, we need to meet the growing demand of Filipino households and the additional annual demand for 300,000 metric tons of salt as coconut fertilizer under the 2021 Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act.
She lamented that our salt production accounts for only 16.782 percent or 114,000 metric tons of the 683,000 metric tons annual demand.
Under the newly- signed law, a Philippine Salt Industry Development Roadmap shall be formulated to include programs, projects, and interventions for the development and management, research, processing, utilization, modernization, and commercialization of Philippine salt.
It shall also create the 16-member Philippine Salt Industry Development Council, headed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary.
“The Salt Industry Development Council is tasked to ensure the unified and integrated implementation of the salt roadmap,” Villar explained.
She related that tariffs to be collected from imported salt will also be plowed back to the industry with the creation of the Salt Industry Development and Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (SIDCEF).
“For 10 years, the SIDCEF shall be earmarked for the: (1) provision of machinery and equipment, including sea water pumps, salt graders, salt harvesters, dump trucks and bagging machines, and salt iodization machines for beneficiaries who are into salt iodization; 50 percent; (2) establishment of salt farm warehouses/storage areas; 40 percent; (3) conduct of extension services; 5 percent; and (4) development of modern salt production and processing technology; 5 percent.”
The new law, Villar said, also provides that the iodization of salt that is not intended for human consumption or local food production, as well as artisanal salt, shall be rendered optional in the country.
Importers, traders, and distributors of imported food-grade salt that will undertake fortification shall comply with the iodization standards set by the Department of Health.
