Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) — A bill seeking to create a comprehensive development plan to revitalize the Philippine salt industry has been approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading.
House Bill (HB) 8278, or the proposed Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, was passed on Monday with 287 affirmative votes. It is among the priority measures of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
Under the measure, salt — unprocessed or processed — is listed as a basic agricultural product, with all the legal and regulatory implications of such classification.
The bill seeks to create the Philippine Salt Industry Development Council (PSIDC) to ensure the unified and integrated implementation of the roadmap and accelerate the modernization and industrialization of the Philippine salt industry.
The PSIDC will be tasked to formulate the Philippine Salt Industry Development Roadmap containing the short-term, medium-term, and long-term development plan. It will also identify specific and priority programs and projects in support of, and in line with the roadmap.
The bill also seeks to institutionalize the creation of small-scale artisanal salt farms through PSIDC and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). The Department of Agriculture will be tasked to ensure that salt is a priority commodity to be produced locally.
Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee, one of the principal authors of the House bill, on Tuesday said the passage of the measure has the potential to create 3,000 to 5,000 jobs in the country’s rural and agricultural communities.
He added that with increased government support and investments, the Philippines can be self-sufficient and give the country the capacity to become a net exporter of salt.
“Sa pagtutok sa industriya, lilikha tayo ng libo-libong trabaho at mapapagaan ang pasanin ng mga salt farmers, salt producers at ng kanilang pamilya. Aambag ito sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya na magbubunga naman ng mga serbisyo sa mga Pilipino,\” he said.
