ILOILO — Salt producers in northern Iloilo are being equipped to produce and protect their harvest even during unfavorable weather as the government pushes to revive the local salt industry and reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6 turned over more than ₱1.5 million worth of production and storage facilities to fisherfolk organizations in Ajuy and Carles on Aug. 28.
The interventions are designed to modernize traditional salt-making, reduce labor-intensive work and protect producers from losses caused by rain and high humidity.
The Punta Dolorosa Fisherfolks Association (PDFA) in Culasi, Ajuy received more than ₱800,000 worth of salt evaporating and cooking facilities and accessories capable of producing 300 kilograms of salt per batch.
Unlike traditional solar evaporation, which depends heavily on dry and sunny conditions, the facility allows producers to continue making salt even during the rainy season, opening the possibility of year-round production.
Meanwhile, the Asosasyon sang mga Asindero sa Carles (AAC) in Barbosa, Carles received more than ₱700,000 for the construction and improvement of a salt storage facility.
The facility can accommodate up to 800 sacks of salt weighing 50 kilograms each, or about 40 metric tons, and is intended to protect finished products from high humidity and rainfall that could cause post-production losses.
BFAR-6 regional director Remia A. Aparri said salt production could provide coastal communities with an additional source of income, particularly during the four to five dry months favorable for traditional salt-making.
“In producing salt, we only need water, an area, and your sipag and tiyaga (diligence and perseverance) to convert water into money,” Aparri said.
She also challenged local government units and fisherfolk organizations to expand salt production areas and maximize technical assistance available through government development programs.
For veteran salt makers, the assistance also means less dependence on physically demanding traditional methods.
Rebecca Tanes, 66, president of the Asosasyon sang mga Asindero sa Carles, said the equipment and training provided by the government have significantly helped their group.
“Natagaan kami sang tanan nga kinahanglanon namon. Gin-seminar kami kun ano ang amon kinahanglanon sa paghimo sang asin,” Tanes shared.
She said motor-driven water pumps provided to the association have made salt production considerably easier, particularly for aging producers like herself.
“May mga water pump nga ginhatag sa amon, dako gid na nga bagay sa paghimo sang asin. Ina tanan ginapasalamatan gid namon,” she added.
The assistance forms part of the national Development of Salt Industry Project (DSIP), which seeks to revitalize domestic salt production and reduce the Philippines’ dependence on imported salt.
Under the program, local producers are provided modern technologies, infrastructure and capacity-building support aimed at developing coastal communities into competitive producers of food-grade and industrial salt./PN
