DAGUPAN CITY – The provincial government of Pangasinan and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) signed a memorandum of agreement recently for the interim management of the foreshore area for salt production.
Governor Ramon Guico III said the area for salt production is about 473.880 hectares of foreshore land situated in Barangay Zaragoza in Bolinao town.
In a statement, the province said “The project aims to provide continuity of operations to the salt industry, give security of tenure to the more or less 400 displaced salt-workers within the aforementioned area with all necessary services, technology and financing to be furnished by the local government unit of Bolinao.”
“Further, it serves as an avenue to prepare for the looming salt shortage at the end of the year as local production does not cover domestic demand per the previous announcement of the Department of Agriculture,” it added.
The government share shall be computed based on formula per DENR Administrative Order No. 98-67, otherwise known as “Guidelines for the Identification and Award of Areas Suitable of Salt Production.”
Earlier, the Pangasinan State University organized the first Philippine Salt Congress recently in Lingayen town.
Policy makers, local government officials, members of the academe, salt manufacturers and salt farmers from all over the country gathered at the Sison Auditorium to take part in the event that serves as a hallmark of the University’s leadership in the development of salt processing and management through quality research, extension and innovation programs.
During the congress, Guico said salt is important in life therefore it needs more attention, budgeting, research and participation from all stakeholders.
“I’m requesting all salt associations to unite for a vision where we will no longer need to import salt because there is enough supply, enough workers and enough cooperatives,” the governor said.
Meanwhile, KABAYAN Partylist Representative Ron Salo, presented House Bill No. 1976 which stakeholders are pushing for immediate passage.
Rep. Salo emphasized that this endeavor to revitalize salt is not only today as it has started a long time ago but is not given much attention.
“Our vision, hindi lang tayo maging salt-sufficient but we will also become exporters of salt,” he added. By APRIL M. MONTES-BRAVO
