The COOP CHAMBER 1 welcomed the signing into law of the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, which “aims to strengthen and revitalize the salt industry in the Philippines.

According to the group, the Philippine Salt Industry was in a dire situation because despite the country being archipelagic, it relies upon its salt through importation coming from China and Australia. 

The production of salt in the Philippines is just 16.78 % or is estimated at 114,623.29 MT or 16.78% of the country’s annual salt requirement. 

Salt is an important ingredient in food and in many aspects. Thus, the revival of the salt industry will not only promote the administration’s agenda of rural development and contribute to producing more products, but it will also create more economic activities in the rural areas, and increase their household income.

The law was signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. last March 11, 2024, and is also aligned with the administration’s food security agenda.

The Coop Chamber shared the views of the President of Salt Industry Networks President Gerard Khonghun that “Salt self-sufficiency will contribute to the agro-industrial development of the Philippines. 

Salt is, according to the group, a national food security issue—and without salt, “we believe that the Philippines is vulnerable to a food supply chain crisis.”