Palace: Gov’t working ‘double time’ to support salt industry

MANILA, Philippines — The national government is working “double time” to support the salt industry in the country, Malacañang said Monday.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles made this statement amid the issue of salt importation in the country, which a lawmaker said was “shameful” since the Philippines is an archipelagic nation.

“Tutulong ang ating pamahalaan para sa modernisasyon ng ating industriya ng pag-aasin (The government will help in modernizing our salt industry),” Cruz-Angeles said in a tweet.

“The national government is now working double time to beef up support for the salt industry to enhance the production of local salt in the country,” she added.

Cruz-Angeles said the Department of Agriculture (DA) and other government agencies have already drawn up some early plans and that the DA would implement programs and initiatives to increase salt production and supply. In addition, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources would spearhead research and development programs to benefit small-scale and artisanal salt producers.

The DA will also expand salt production areas and push for the development of technologies to accelerate salt production.

Other plans of the national government, Cruz-Angeles said, are as follows:

– Realization of the Development of the Salt Industry Project for salt makers in Regions 1, 6, and 9;

– DA to expand salt production areas and push for the development of technologies to accelerate salt production; and

– DA to work with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Trade and Industry to develop the local salt Industry under Republic Act 8172 or the Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide.

The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. earlier revealed that the country currently imports 93 percent or 550,000 metric tons of salt annually from Australia and China.

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