SALT REFINERY IN PANGASINAN LAUNCHED

A SIMPLE CEREMONY at JM Salt Refinery farm, owned by Grace Monterola in Barangay Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan, was held to launch the I-Salt Project of the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) and DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD). It coincided with the Regional Science and Technology Week celebration in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. The launching was graced by the DOST officials led by Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Brenda L. Nazareth-Manzano, DOST-ITDI director Anabelle Briones, DOST Region 1 director Dr. Armando Q. Ganal, and the Provincial Science and Technology director (PSTD) of Pangasinan Felicidad M. Gan.

The I-Salt Project pilots an iodized salt processing model and design. It uses three

technologies, namely: Saturated Brine Feed Reservoir, an evaporating setup which has 300L per batch capacity and allows the production of finer salt with higher purity. Next to this is the Spin Dryer, designed to reduce the moisture of salt in accordance to ASIN Law. This can process up to 75 kilograms per batch of salt even in humid and rainy conditions. From the Spin Dryer, salt will be transferred to Iodizing Machine, this is a portable screw-type machine which is operated continuously with a 750 kgper hour capacity. This machine uniformly infuses iodine to the salt at the level of 30 to 70 ppm.

Sec. De la Peña recalled that one of the identified targets during the industry forum conducted in Pangasinan last 2015 was the production of Iodized salt, thus the I-Salt Project in Infanta was approved, to boost the product quality and productivity of local salt producers in Pangasinan. (DOST REGION 1, S&T MEDIA SERVICE)