Philippines to import salt amid supply problems —DA exec

The Philippines will import salt as the country faces some issues regarding its supply and local production, Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said Wednesday.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Panganiban was asked about the supply of salt in the country.

“Ang asin talagang nag-iimport tayo diyan (We really import salt). We have P100 million to start for this season. And we hope and anticipate that we should be able to do something about it,” he said.

Panganiban earlier this month said the shortage of salt in the country is due to the years of negligence in the industry, including by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

According to him, BFAR has yet to utilize its P100 million budget for 2021 to boost salt production in the country.

“For the last two to three years, wala akong nakitang activity na ginagawa ng BFAR kundi kumuha ng pera at pabayaan (I have not seen any activity done by BFAR but to take money and neglect it),” he said.

“Sa katunayan nga may P100 million pa sila ng 2021 na naka-program sa kanila pero hindi pa na-release sa kanila at na-follow up (In fact, they have P100 million for 2021 programmed to them, but it has not been released to them and followed up),” he added.

In August, BFAR said it is setting aside P100 million worth of funds to boost salt production in the country for 2022.

The Marcos administration earlier bared its plan to enhance salt production in the country.

According to the Office of the Press Secretary, the DA, which is being headed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., will lead the efforts for local salt production. —KG, GMA News