Marcos signs PH Salt Industry Development Act

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has signed into law the measure that aims to strengthen and revitalize the country's salt industry. 

Signed on March 11, 2024, the 23-page Philippine Salt Industry Development Act states that appropriate technology and research as well as adequate financial, production, marketing and other support services will be provided to salt farmers to improve the salt industry.

This will also help attain an increased salt production, achieve salt-sufficiency and become a next exporter of salt.

“It is further the policy of the State to preserve, protect, and rehabilitate the natural environment in the actualization of its developmental policies,” the law said.

The law also states that a Philippine Salt Industry Development Roadmap will be formulated and established to ensure the attainment of its objectives, which are aligned with the objectives and continued implementation of Republic Act No. 8172, or “An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN).

A “Salt Council” will also be created to ensure the unified and integrated implementation of the salt roadmap. This will also help accelerate the modernization and industrialization of the Philippine salt industry chaired by the Department of Agriculture (DA). 

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will serve as the vice-chairperson of the Salt Council while representatives from the cooperatives will be chosen by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) from five nominees from Luzon, three from the Visayas and Mindanao. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA Integrated News