Flor G. Tarriela l September 13, 2022 l Manila Bulletin
Matthew 5:13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavor (purpose), how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing, to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men”
The Philippines is composed of 7,100 islands with the sun shines practically every day. We have 36,000 kilometers of shoreline, the 5th biggest in the world and it is said, we need only 6,000 kilometers or 1/6 to be self-sufficient in salt.
In the 1990s, salt production was a thriving industry in the Philippines and provided 85 percent of the country’s salt requirements with only 15 percent imported. However, Bulacan, Cavite and Las Pinas – large salt farms near Manila – stopped production due to land development offering higher returns. Pangasinan and Occidental Mindoro continued but much reduced due to climate change patterns and inefficient production methods. In 1994, the passage RA8172 or the ASIN Law required salt producers to shift to iodized salt production further increasing production cost (need iodization equipment/ potassium iodide) and making it illegal to sell natural salt. This was a deterrent to the industry. After 1994, cheap imported salt entered the market with the passage of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
In 2021, we imported 550,000 metric tons representing 93 percent of the annual requirement, mainly from China and Australia. Local production now supplies a mere 7 percent. In 2021, the world’s largest salt producer was China (64 million metric tons). Others are US (40 million metric tons-mmt) India (29mmt), Germany (15.3mmt), Australia (11mmt).
Salt is asin. In the Philippines, the salt capital is PangASINan, which means the “land of salt”. Salt is produced by the evaporation of sea water, the combination of sea water and the sun, thus, retaining trace minerals. Salt is produced during summer months under the sun’s extreme heat. There are many uses of salt. One is, salt is basic raw material to patis making. Patis is made by mixing fish and salt and fermenting it. Coming from Malabon, my Nanay started a patis business. Nanay bought the salt by trucks and the empty sacks were counted at the end of the delivery to be paid for. To Nanay’s dismay, empty sacks were already in the truck which means these additional empty sacks were counted to be paid for. Nanay was disappointed and this event encouraged her to construct her own salt beds in Dasol, PangASINan (hometown of my brother-in-law Nards Jimenez) to ensure reliable supply to her patis business or “vertical integration”. Today, the Dasol salt beds still produce sea salt, managed by my son Edmin with my sister Kay Jimenez as mentor. The salt farms are a unique tourism destination with the Dasol LGU protecting the environment and rivers maintained clean.
Many years ago, Clara Lapus of Mamasita fame lobbied against the ASIN Law but fell on deaf ears. Finally, lawmakers have awakened to reality. Senator Joel Villanueva filed a resolution to look into reviving the local salt industry and even be a salt exporter. This is not farfetched as the quality of our sea salt is very good (ala “fleur de sel” – artisan salt produced by old fashioned methods) that my balikbayan cousins from the US always bring Dasol salt with them. In Congress, Rep. Ron Salo filed a bill to revitalize the salt industry. Dept of Agriculture (DA) USec Panganiban confirmed the years of neglect to the Salt industry. He said DA will implement programs to boost production by expanding new areas and development of latest technologies. I do hope after being overlooked that the government and private sector will now work together and jumpstart to put the salt industry in the map. If nothing is done now, where will the salt industry be?
*** Ms. Tarriela was former Chairman of the Philippine National Bank. She is a former Undersecretary of Finance and the first Filipina vice-president of Citibank N.A. She is a trustee of FINEX and an Institute of Corporate Directors fellow.