SALT farmers from Dasol, Pangasinan backed efforts of the Senate to amend Republic Act 8172 or the 'Salt Iodization Nation (ASIN) Law' to allow the optional use of iodized salt.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), municipal mayor of Dasol, and representatives from the Office of Sen. Cynthia Villar and Office of Sen. Ma. Lourdes Nancy Binay conducted a dialogue with the salt farmers where they blamed the implementation of the ASIN Law, which mandates the use of iodized salt, for the decline of the local production of salt in the country.

BFAR spokesman Nazario Briguera said there is a need to revisit the law to address the concerns of the local salt industry.

'As you heard, even the resource speakers agreed that we need to strike a balance because there are certain markets that do not require iodized salt but there are also other markets that require the iodization. It should be optional, so I think that is the direction,' Briguera added.

Briguera said that while awaiting the amendments of the ASIN Law, the BFAR focuses on how to help salt farmers and revive the local salt industry.

'As of now, our focus is the intervention to revive the salt industry while the amendments of the law are still pending,' he noted.

Briguera said the salt industry was neglected for decades.

'One factor is the fragmented policy, as no particular agency is tasked to focus on the needs of the sector,' Briguera added.

Briguera said that as of now, BFAR is taking the initiative to address the problems hounding the salt industry,

'We just assume the function, but there is no specific law on the agency for the salt industry,' he added.

At the same time, Briguera said that Dasol was chosen to formally launch efforts to revive the salt industry.

'Actually, we've just chosen Dasol to formally launch our Oplan Asin. First, Pangasinan is really known for salt, and the municipality just finished the salt festival. [The festival was] so timely and the launching is relevant, but it does not mean that the intervention of BFAR is only concentrated in Dasol or Pangasinan. It covers all other regions with salt production,' he noted.

Briguera said at least P200 million funding was allocated to revive the salt production in 23 provinces in the country.

Among the areas initially covered by the project are Alaminos, Infanta, Dasol and San Fabian in Pangasinan; Paoay and Burgos in Ilocos Norte; Narvacan, Santo Domingo and Santa Catalina in Ilocos Sur; Bangar and Luna in La Union; Aurora; Bataan; Zambales; Bulacan; Kawit and Noveleta in Cavite; Lobo and Calatagan in Batangas; Atimonan in Quezon; Occidental Mindoro; Antique; Guimaras; Iloilo; Negros Occidental; Bohol; Zamboanga del Norte; Zamboanga Sibugay; Zamboanga del Sur; Zamboanga City; Isabela City; and Basilan.

Briguera said P100 million was allocated in 2022 under the Development of the Salty Industry Project (DSIP) and another P100 million in 2023 to fund the program.

The budget covers the distribution of postharvest materials, upgrading of all the storage facilities and establishment of technology demonstration.

Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. President Danilo Fausto had said that the country imports 93 percent of its salt requirements totaling 550,000 metric tons from China and Australia with the 'dead local salt industry.'

Fausto said that while there is no shortage in the country, he stressed that the salt supply is being sourced outside.

'It is a shame that while the Philippines has one of the longest shorelines in the world covering at least 36,000 kilometers, we resort to importation. If we can develop at least 70,000 kilometers of our shorelines, we can produce enough to meet our requirements,' Fausto added.

Fausto blamed the ASIN Law requiring the addition of iodine to salt in killing the salt industry.

'The ASIN Law passed in 1995 requires local producers to shift to iodized salt production. The DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) is required under the law to provide the machine to incorporate iodine in the salt being produced but it failed to comply resulting in the death of the salt industry. Now we are importing 93 percent of our salt requirements,' Fausto noted. BELLA CARIASO