The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) lauded the signing into law of Republic Act (RA) No 11985 or the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act which it said would revive the dying local salt industry and help propel the country’s progress.

PCCI, the country’s biggest group of businessmen, expressed optimism that this new law would help in realizing the full potential of the local salt industry which it stated can generate up to 100,000 “green jobs” especially in the countryside, help the country save foreign exchange spent in importing 550,000 metric tons of salt every year, and enable the Philippine economy to partake in the global salt trade valued at $2.59 billion.

PCCI President Enunina “Nina” V. Mangio voiced the chamber’s hopes that the new law will address the gaps in the implementation of the ASIN Law or the Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide and create opportunities for people, especially in rural areas.

Mangio is also the Board Governor of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT), aside from being Honorary Chair and Senior Adviser for Philippines-Korea Business Council, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Liberia in West Africa, and owner of the renowned SamgyeopMasarap chain of restaurants.

She underscored the importance of the new law, “We are an archipelagic country with over 7,000 islands yet, we import more than 90 percent of our salt requirement. It’s a sad reality that we need to collectively address.”

She noted that the law is expected to not only attract more farmers and producers to return to salt farming and production but also generate new investments and new technologies to elevate the industry and become competitive.

“We should aim for our country to become salt self-sufficient and minimize dependence on imports,” the PCCI chief added.

She further said that as early as 2022, the PCCI, jointly with the PHILEXPORT and ECOP expressed its support for the passage of the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act.

Also, Dr. William S. Co, Director of PCCI Agriculture and Fishery Committee, said that there is no reason the country cannot produce enough supply of sea salt as “we are surrounded by waters.”

📷: Dept. of Agriculture FB