In support of the first-ever Philippine Salt Congress on November 26 to 27, 2022, the Philippine Council for Agriculture for Fisheries (PCAF) conducted a follow-up dialogue with salt industry stakeholders on November 25, 2022 in Lingayen, Pangasinan, one of the major salt-producing towns in the country.
The follow-up dialogue was a result of the first round table discussion (see related article) with the salt industry players and PCAF early November.
The recent conversation gave the stakeholders the chance to voice out pressing issues and immediate concerns on domestic salt production and identified urgent policy agenda and areas of cooperation between concerned government agencies and the private sector.
The salt industry stakeholders recommended the issuance of an order authorizing the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources as the lead agency for the administration of the salt industry, and the enactment of a legislation that shall establish a Salt Competitiveness Enhancement Fund from the proceeds of salt importation.
The participants of the dialogue also agreed that there should be more government interventions to develop new salt producing and processing technologies and to increase the competitiveness of the local salt industry.
The continued participation of salt industry stakeholders as members of PCAF’s National Banner Program Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, and the conduct of more dialogues to further discuss policy actions were also identified as ways forward by the attendees.
Meanwhile, the Salt Congress, with the theme “Recognizing the Salt Industry Towards a Salt-Sufficient Philippines”, highlighted current research and technological developments on salt production and provided a forum for various stakeholders to collaborate towards a productive, innovative, competitive, and resilient Philippine salt industry.
Students from state universities and colleges from the 10 salt-producing provinces of the country presented their research on salt technology development, value adding and other commodities combined with salt, and social welfare, economics, and marketing.
During the Salt Congress, Representative Ron P. Salo of KABAYAN Party list also presented updates on House Bill No. 1976, or the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, which would revitalize the local salt industry and would prevent full dependence on imported salt.
Also as part of the support of the agency, PCAF was also the event partner of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) during their Mindanao Talks: Revisiting the Struggling Salt Industry in the Philippines webinar on November 29, 2022.
The forum gathered stakeholders from the public and private sectors, who discussed the impact of the current salt crisis to different industries. The event highlighted the government’s unwavering support to the local salt industry in both long-term production and effective marketing.
Dr. Ulysses M. Montojo of the Department of Agriculture-National Fisheries and Research Development Institute discussed current government efforts to mainstream research, extension, and policy directions towards a salt-sufficient Philippines.
The webinar also featured recent innovations and interventions spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) to help the local salt producers achieve sustainability. | SMA
