Lower salt production in Dasol hit by importation
DASOL Mayor Rizalde Bernal blamed importation of salt for the lower production of salt, its town product, for the last three years.
Bernal revealed this during the National Salt Congress held at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen, organized by the Pangasinan State University.
He said there are 400 hectares of salt farms in his town that could have produced 17.5 metric tons per hectare per year but since the government started importation of salt, the town’s production was only 35% of its usual production for the past three years.
Many of the town’s salt makers have since shifted to other jobs and livelihood because of the lost opportunities caused by the importation of salt allowed by the national government.
Based on data released during the National Salt Congress, at least 93% of the salt being used in homes and food factories in the Philippines are imported and only 7% are being produced locally in two provinces, namely, Occidental Mindoro and Pangasinan.
Because of this, the National Salt Congress has sought the immediate passage of House Bill 1976 that seeks to establish an Inter-agency body that will focus on developing the local salt industry to ensure sufficient supply in the country.
Gerard Khonghun, president of PhilAsin, sought the conversion of some unproductive fishponds into salt farms and the provision technology training on salt-making as support to farmers.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource (BFAR) cited 10 places in the Philippines that are conducive to salt-making because of their good climate and these could make the Philippines a top importer if given full support. (Ella Garcia/104.7 IFM Dagupan)
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