Philippines working ‘double time’ to boost salt industry

Mary Love Milan checks the mounds of salt harvested from their family’s salt beds in Noveleta town, Cavite province. The government has promised to extend technical assistance to local salt farmers, whose market has been continuously shrinking due to competition from imported products. - PDI

MANILA (Philippine Daily inquirer/Asia News Network): The government is working “double time” to ramp up support for the local salt industry following reports of rising prices due to thinning supply in various parts of the country, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz Angeles said on Monday (Aug 29).

In a statement, Angeles said different national government agencies would work closely to enhance the development of the local salt industry, describing as “an unfortunate incident” the fact that the country imports 93 per cent of its salt requirements despite having 36,000 kilometres of shoreline.