Bill reclassifies salt as aggie product
A measure reclassifying salt as agricultural products has been approved in the House Committee on Agriculture and Food.
The bill provides exemption of locally produced salt from mandatory iodization to give salt farmers and producers the flexibility to cater to different markets.
Dubbed “Philippine Salt Industry Development” bill, it places salt under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Likewise, the bill establishes a Philippine Salt Industry Development Roadmap and the Philippine Salt Industry Development Council (PSIDC).
Elated over the smooth progress of the bill, Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo, one of the principal authors of the measure, said it will provide better support to local salt farmers and producers while providing a shift in policy from being primarily regulatory to being developmental.
“The shift from a regulatory to a developmental mindset is crucial in ensuring that the salt industry will be properly managed and developed, and that the interests of our salt farmers will be protected. This will promote the sustainable development of the salt industry, create employment opportunities, and enhance the overall well-being of our people,” he said.
Salo sees this as a leap forward in the development and modernization of the salt industry in the country.
“We are very pleased with the Committee’s approval of our proposed measure on the Philippine salt industry. I thank the Chairman, Rep. Enverga, and all the members of the committee for voting to approve this measure,” Salo said.
Salo added: “The Philippine Salt Industry Development Bill reflects a paradigm shift in policy from being primarily regulatory to being developmental. It establishes a Philippine Salt Industry Development Roadmap and the Philippine Salt Industry Development Council (PSIDC), an inter-agency body that will ensure the full implementation of the proposal.”
Salo emphasized the importance of supporting small-scale artisanal salt farms.
“The DA-BFAR’s assistance in the design, construction, and development of small-scale artisanal salt farms in partnership with the private sector will provide more opportunities for our local farmers and help promote the salt industry,” the solon said. Jester Manalastas
