Job generation seen with new salt industry law

THE revival of the salt industry, through Republic Act (RA) 11985, or “Philippine Salt Industry Development Act,” will generate thousands of new jobs, particularly in the countryside and coastal communities.

Signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last March 11, RA 11985 shall establish a comprehensive road map to implement programs, projects and interventions for the development and management, research, processing, utilization, business modernization and commercialization of the Philippine salt.

“Apart from the thousands of new jobs that this law will create, the income of our farmers will also increase,” Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee said of the law that he principally authored.

“Our work does not end with the signing of this measure into law. We need to ensure its proper and effective implementation,” he added.

Aside from encouraging investments and increasing local salt production through the expansion of existing and idle salt farms, Lee said the law will boost capacity building for salt farmers and strengthen market linkages.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall ensure that salt is a priority commodity to be produced locally.

The measure classifies salt as an aquatic resource product and shall be exempt from all taxes.

The DA-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, in close coordination with the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, shall spearhead the development of the latest technology in salt production particularly technology that allows year-round production of salt even under erratic weather patterns.

It shall also encourage the mechanization of salt production and develop technologies that promote alternative methods and cost-effective techniques in salt production.

Lee thanked President Marcos and his fellow lawmakers in both houses of Congress for the enactment of RA 11985.

“With proper monitoring and implementation, we can achieve our ultimate goal to be salt self-sufficient and become a net exporter of salt. We can now avoid having to import 500,000 metric tons of salt every year, or more than 90 percent of the country’s salt requirement,” he said.