NINETY-THREE per cent of the salt supply is imported even as the country has 36,000 kilometers of shoreline.

This was revealed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as it claimed that a number of factors have contributed to the decline in the production of salt including low quality control and stunted product improvement for many years.

The DA also attributed the decline of salt production to limited development including the lack of innovation and interventions, as well as low enterprise and investment opportunities that resulted to the decrease in the production of the said commodity.

In addition, the sector has failed to adapt to the challenges caused by the global climate change, food safety standards and quality requirements, and tariff reduction, and meet the mandatory iodization imposed by Republic Act 8172, or the Act for Salt Iodization Nation-wide (ASIN).

Under the ASIN law, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), along with other appropriate government agencies shall identify areas that are suitable for use as salt farms with the purpose of protecting such areas from environmental risks to ensure sustainability of iodized salt production.

The law also mandates Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to assist and support local salt producers/manufacturers in upgrading their production technologies to include iodization by helping them obtain soft loans and financial assistance for the procurement of salt iodization machines, packaging equipment and technology and fortificant; and by ensuring systematic distribution of the iodized salt in the market.

ASIN law requires the addition of iodine to all salt intended for animal and human consumption in order to eliminate micronutrient malnutrition in the country. To address these problems besetting the salt industry, initiatives and measures will be implemented to boost the production of salt and will supply the requirements of both of its commercial and industry user.

To address these problems besetting the salt industry, the DA through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), will lead various research and development activities and provide technical assistance to marginal and artisanal salt makers.

Also, different national government agencies will work closely to enhance the development of the local salt industry, and enable the sector to be self-sufficient.

Last year, the BFAR has implemented a P100-million Development of the Salt Industry Project (DSIP) under the Special Budget Request (SBR) of the Congressional-Introduced Initiative Project.

Covering Regions 1, 6, and 9, the project aims to increase salt production and produce excellent quality of salt through enhancement and improvement of the different methods and practices on salt production, and product compliance to food safety standards.

The BFAR Central Office, the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), and concerned BFAR regional offices have jointly implemented the project.

The DA will also look into the expansion of production areas, and development of technologies including evaporation system and the use of various machineries to accelerate the production of salt.

Likewise, facilities for processing, packaging and value adding will be provided to marginal salt makers under a co-sharing agreement.

Last July, under the Bayanihan 2 Program, the DA-BFAR regional office in Ilocos turned over an aluminum van truck to the local government unit (LGU) of Dasol, Pangasinan and other post-harvest equipment to residents engaged in salt-making.

To further enhance the local salt industry, the DA will collaborate with national agencies including the DENR and DTI.