Bill reviving PHL salt industry included in House priority list

THE Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) has included the passage of the bill amending Republic Act No. 8172 or the ASIN law of 1995 in its priority measures.

Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo said his House Bill 1976 or the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act employs a whole-of-nation, whole-ofsociety, and whole-of-government approach as it seeks to revitalize the salt industry.

“I am very pleased that our proposed measure on the revitalization of the salt industry is part of the priority measures of the administration,” Salo said.

“I thank the President for recognizing the urgent need to revitalize our dying salt industry. It is indeed high time that we give attention to this industry which has been overlooked for decades now,” Salo added.

Salo filed House Bill 1976 or the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act at the beginning of the 19th Congress as a measure to revitalize the local salt industry.

“It clearly outlines the specific role of various departments and agencies of the government toward salt self-sufficiency and mandates the provision of necessary funding,” said Salo.

The bill includes provisions on the identification of areas suitable for salt production, the construction and lease of salt farms, and the grant of incentives to businesses linked to salt farming, among others.

“To ensure the successful implementation of the law, an inter-agency body to be called ASINDERO, for Administration for Salt Industry Development, Revitalization and Optimization will also be created,” Salo added.

“I am certain that this will go a long way in empowering our sea salt farmers, artisanal salt makers, and salt producers. Thus, we hope for its immediate enactment into law,” Salo said.

To date, the proposed measure is pending at the Committee on Agriculture and Food Technical Working Group (TWG) which Salo chairs.