An inter-agency effort is gearing up to revitalize the salt industry in Region 02 following the consultative meeting spearheaded by the fisheries Bureau wherein a multipronged approach was outlined to address crucial interventions in the implementation of the 4.7 Million peso- worth Development of Salt Industry Project on February 24, 2025.   

The move is in line with the government’s initiative in strengthening and revitalizing of the Salt Industry backed by Republic Act 11985 signed into law in March 2021.

For 2025, a clearer direction is now in place after identifying appropriate steps integrating the inputs of the agencies involved in the salt project.  

During the discussion, the following areas were elevated:  reconciliation of the weakness and strengths of the ASIN (Iodization Law) and the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act; proper delineation of functions in the inspection on the classification of food-grade and for industrial uses of salt; capacitating local government units and market administrators on the checking and inspection of iodized salt (for food additives) being sold in the market; and securing necessary documentary requirements including licenses of salt-producers to the Food and Drug Administration to ensure that locally-produced salt are safe for human consumption.

Recognizing the importance of unified efforts towards the project’s successful implementation, creation of an inter-agency committee apart from the Department of Health- National Nutrition Council led – Regional Bantay Asin Task Force and inclusion of the DSIP project in the agenda for discussion during council meetings of the Regional Development Council where supports of other stakeholders and policy makers will be sought were also raised.

Dr. Evelyn C. Ame, Focal Person of the Salt Project, contends that one of the goals of the initiative is to put the Cagayan Valley Region in the map of salt-producing areas alongside with other regions like Regions 1, and 4A considering the vast sea water resources in the region.

Further, Ame said, the project also aims to make the region self-sufficient in salt even for domestic consumption only and reduce dependence of salt requirements for household purposes from other salt-producing areas.

Earlier, the fisheries Bureau in a joint undertaking with the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, conducted industry profiling to identify salt-producing regions and in the process provided necessary interventions to boost salt production.  

Regional Director Angely L. Mercado, Philippine Information Agency graced the activity and was joined by representatives from the Department of Health, National Nutrition Council, DA-Philippine Coconut Authority, Foods and Drugs Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Cooperative Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Interior and Local Government, ASIN Checkpoints of Local Government Unit of Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan and Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, and DA-BFAR Staff.