KABAYAN Partylist Representative Ron Salo thanked Senator Joel Villanueva for the latter’s support for the revival of the salt industry.

He highlighted that “Senator Villanueva recognizes the need to revive our salt industry, and we salute him as our co-champion in this cause.”

On July 14, 2022, Salo filed House Bill 1976, which aims to revive the domestic salt industry and prevent the country from becoming completely dependent on salt imports through the implementation of a comprehensive plan for the local salt industry’s development that includes providing incentives to salt farmers and exporters.

The Senate majority leader said on Saturday that it is “shameful” that the archipelagic country of the Philippines imports 93 percent of its salt requirements annually.

Salo agreed that it is shameful for our nation to be import-dependent on salt, a sector that ought to be thriving in an archipelagic nation with more than 36,000 kilometers of coastline. “It is such a waste of the country’s natural resources and comparative advantage,” he added.

The solon further emphasized that the 93 percent importation of salt implies wasted chances for millions, if not billions, of pesos in potential earnings and employment for salt producers and farmers. Salt is a staple basic food commodity as well as a key raw ingredient for the chemical and agro-industrial sectors.

“We have been in dialogue with different industry stakeholders since the 17th Congress when we first filed a bill in support of the salt industry,” he mentioned.  “Since then,” Salo pointed out, “we have seen a groundswell of support from both the private and government sectors, particularly the Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry. And now that Senator Villanueva is with us, we hope to gather more support in Congress to finally pass a law for our salt farmers and producers.”

“Senator Villanueva and I share the same sentiments,” he noted. “Indeed, we can still become a net exporter of salt only if the government undertakes immediate steps to address the sad state of our salt industry and take the lead in revitalizing it.”

Salo added that he believes the new law will not only revive the local salt industry, but also raise the revenue of salt farmers and producers, enabling the nation to become salt self-sufficient and a net exporter of salt.

As a result, he added, “we await Senator Villanueva’s counterpart Senate measure, and I look forward to working with him as co-champions in the advocacy for the revival of the Philippine salt industry.”

Photo Credit: House of Representatives Website