Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

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TIME _2: IG pm a
BY _ sweet KY

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2924

Introduced by Rep. FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS
1st District, locos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

With 36,000 kilometers of shoreline — the fifth longest in the world — the
Philippines has the potential of becoming a salt-exporting country. And yet the reality
at present is that we are actually importing as much as 93% of our salt requirement,
and our domestic salt industry has been in steady decline over the years to the point
of being deemed a dying industry.

It has not been always like this. There was a time when we are almost 100%
self-sufficient in salt. We used to have a number of production areas with a thriving
salt industry. We even have an entire province in the country bearing a name whose
‘etymology literally means “place of salt” or “place of salt-making” (ref. Pangasinan).

The sad plight of our salt industry has been attributed to a number of factors.
Import liberalization has led to the flooding of cheap salt import. Years of rapid
urbanization have resulted in former salt farms being converted to more lucrative
industries such as fishponds, residential, commercial or industrial areas. Most small-
scale salt producers have also failed to adapt to changes brought by climate change,
and this is unfortunate considering that their industry is very dependent on weather
conditions. The government has also failed to prioritize the development of our local
industries and there were no focused interventions to stimulate some of the flagging
industries.

Perhaps, however, one of the major causes responsible for the steady decline
of the country's salt industry is the passage of Republic Act No. 8172, otherwise
known as the Act for Salt lodization Nationwide (ASIN). Mandating that all food-
grade salt in the Philippines be iodized but applied to the entire salt industry, our
local salt farmers were marginalized in the massive shift to iodization. The capital
requirement for the machinery and technology necessary for iodization proved to be
too heavy especially for subsistence, small and medium scale salt farmers and
producers so much so that those in the industry dropped one by one and shifted to
other sources of livelihood.

It is urgent and vital therefore to revive and modernize the Philippine salt
industry. We need a comprehensive salt industry development program that will
mobilize resources that will reduce import dependence and achieve food sufficiency.


Our salt farmers and salt producers must be given access to needed technology,
capital and support services so that they could attain increased income for their
families, scale-up local production that can lower importations and also ensure food
safety and product quality.

Among ASEAN member states, Indonesia and Vietnam have included salt
self-sufficiency as part of their priorities for food, agricultural and industrial
development. As far as Thailand is concemed, we are actually importing a small
portion of our salt requirement from that country.

In view of the precarious state of our country’s salt industry, perhaps the
better approach is that we encourage, not require, the iodization of our salt
production. It is believed that there is room or space for the making of different
varieties of salt depending on various industry requirements. By moving forward this
way, we expect not only to revive our domestic salt production but also serve as a
stimulus to the various ancillary or dependent economic activities to our salt industry.

On the basis of the foregoing considerations, the early approval of this bill is
earnestly sought.

FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS


Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2924

Introduced by Rep. FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS
1st District, llocos Norte

AN ACT
REVITALIZING THE SALT INDUSTRY, CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO SALT FARMERS,
PRODUCERS AND EXPORTERS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Salt
Industry Development Act’.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to promote
industrialization and full employment based on sound agricultural development
through industries that make full and efficient use of human and natural resources,
and which are competitive in both domestic and foreign markets. For this purpose,
the State shall provide support through appropriate technology and research, and
adequate financial, production, marketing, and other support services to revitalize
the salt industry, attain increased income for salt farmers and salt producers, achieve
salt self-sufficiency, and become a net exporter of salt.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

a) Artisanal salt refers to unrefined sea salt, derived directly from a living sea or
ocean, harvested and cooked through a natural evaporation process. It
retains natural traces of minerals depending on the source and the manner of
production, such as solar evaporation, cooked or smoked.

b) Food-grade salt refers to salt for human and animal consumption;

c) lodized salt refers to any type of salt artificially spray-coated with iodine;


d) Industrial salt refers to salt used in the treatment, processing, and/or
manufacture of non-food commercial products;

e

Philippine sea salt refers to salt produced from the evaporation of seawater,
brine, or concentrated brine in any salt farm within the Philippines.

f) Salt farm refers to areas of land, shorelines, or coastal areas, including its
buildings, machineries, and equipment used for salt production. Salt farms
may be classified according to sizes as follows:

(i) Small-scale salt farm — salt farm of not more than three (3) hectares;

(ii) Medium-scale salt farm — salt farm of more than three (3) hectares
but not more than fifty (50) hectares; and

(iii) Large-scale salt farm — salt farm owned or leased by individuals that
is more than fifty (50) but not more than five hundred (500) hectares, or
salt farm owned or leased by an association, cooperative or
corporation that is more than fifty (50) but not more than one thousand
(1,000) hectares; and

g) Salt producer refers to an individual, corporation, cooperative, or association
involved in the production of sea salt.

SEC. 4. Philippine Salt Industry Roadmap. — For the attainment of the
objectives of this Act, there shall be formulated and established a Philippine Salt
Industry Development Roadmap (“Roadmap”), which shall include, but not be limited
to, programs, projects, interventions and incentives for the development and
management, research, processing, utilization, modernization, _ business
development, and commercialization of Philippine salt. The Roadmap shall include
the following objectives, among others:

Increase salt production in order to attain salt self-sufficiency, and become a
net exporter of salt;

a

b) Encourage salt farming and expand the number of salt-producing areas;

c) Ensure the sustainable production, management and harvesting, and soil and
water conservation practices in salt-farming areas;

d) Promote public and private investments in the salt industry development

programs;

e) Ensure the sustainability and viability of the salt industry through the
establishment of cooperatives among salt farmers and producers in order to
optimize local production and improve access to government interventions,
assistance, and incentives;

f) Advance market access for Philippine salt products locally and internationally;


9)

h

Extend technical and financial assistance for the development, processing,
commercialization, and marketing of Philippine salt products;

Develop and distinguish category of salt areas into artisanal salt production
areas, as gourmet salt producing areas, iodized salt producing areas, salt
ecotourism sites, and similar sites or areas, and provide appropriate
incentives;

Introduce new salt development technology based on robust research and
development (R & D) activities;

Provide continuous training and capacity building in the salt industry;

Provide technical and financial assistance in the local design and fabrication
of high-capacity processing equipment and machineries for the salt industry;

Adopt a program for the active formation of cooperatives of salt farmers
pursuant to Section 21 of this Act; and

m) Support R & D activities for salt revitalization.

SEC. 5. Creation of the Philippine Salt Industry Development Council. —

To ensure the unified and integrated implementation of the Roadmap and accelerate
the modernization and industrialization of the Philippine Salt Industry, a Philippine
Salt Industry Development Council (PSIDC) is hereby created with the following

composition:

a) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) as Chairperson;

b) Secretary of the Trade and Industry (DT!) as Co-Chairperson;

c) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
as Vice-Chairperson;

Members:

d) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST);

e) Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH);

f) Secretary of the Department of Tourism;

g) Chairperson of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA);

h) Secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development

(DEPDev);
Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR);
Chief Executive Officer of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP);


k) One representative each from the League of Provinces of the Philippines,
League of Cities of the Philippines, and League of Municipalities of the
Philippines;

1) One (1) representative from the private sector engaged in salt-production
business;

m) One (1) representative from the salt farmers or workers;
n) One (1) representative from the salt farmer cooperatives; and

0) One (1) representative from the private sector engaged in a business
belonging to the local salt industry, other than farming and production.

SEC. 6. Functions of the PSIDC. — The PSIDC shall have the following
powers and functions:

a) Formulate the Philippine Salt Industry Development Roadmap containing the
short-term, medium-term and long term-development plan;

b)

Identify specific and priority programs and projects in support of, and in line
with the Roadmap;

ic

Provide development funds, technical assistance and equipment to salt
farmers and the industry. The support shall be commensurate to the size of
the salt farm;

d) Undertake the construction, through the DA-BFAR, of new small scale
artisanal salt farms;

e)

Identify sources of financing and facilitate credit windows with government
banks and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council to expand salt industry
development;

f) Increase production of local salt by increasing land area devoted to salt and
improving farm productivity;

Institutionalize capacity building for salt farmers through the Agricultural
Training Institute;

e

h) Strengthen market linkage and promotion of Philippine salt;

i) Conduct continuing R & D on innovation and modernization of the salt
industry;

Establish an Agri-Insurance Program for salt producers;

k)

Establish parameters and guidelines when domestically-produced salt may be
subjected to mandatory salt iodization under the provisions of Republic Act
(RA) No. 8172, otherwise known as “An Act for Salt lodization Nationwide
(ASIN). Such parameters shall include the level of iodine deficiency among
Filipinos and the degree of recovery of the domestic salt industry;


|) Establish parameters and guidelines when imported salt may be exempted
from mandatory salt iodization under the provisions of RA No. 8172. Such
parameters shall include the level of iodine deficiency among Filipinos and the
degree of recovery of the domestic salt industry;

m) Recommend to the Department of Budget and Management the required
yearly appropriations for the plan and implementation of salt development
programs;

n

Submit annual reports, not later than June 30 of each year, to the Office of the
President and to each House of Congress, on the status of the
implementation of the Roadmap and the salt industry development in the
country; and

0)

Promulgate such rules and regulations, and exercise such other powers and
functions, as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act.

SEC 7. Program Management Office and Secretariat. - The DA-BFAR
shall lead in the industry strengthening, expansion and promotion of the salt industry.
Toward this end, a Program Management Office (PMO) is hereby created under the
Office of the Director of the BFAR to oversee the overall implementation of the salt
industry development roadmap as well as the conduct of regular monitoring of its
execution by the implementing agencies and/or partners.

The Secretariat is also hereby created under the PMO and shall perform
functions such as coordinating and managing the regular meetings of the PSIDC,
preparing and/or consolidating reports for the PMO, monitoring the implementation of
policy decisions that the PSIDC has adopted, and liaising with all the member
departments and relevant agencies of the government, as needed.

SEC. 8. Salt as Basic Agricultural Product. — Salt, whether unprocessed or
processed, is hereby classified as a basic agricultural product with all its necessary
legal and regulatory implications.

The DA shall also ensure that salt is a priority commodity to be produced
locally in areas or regions identified in this Act, as well as in the development plan for
the salt industry. The required resources shall be allocated by the DA for this
purpose.

SEC. 9. Jurisdiction over Salt Farms and Fishponds with Salt Farms. -
The administrative jurisdiction and management of salt farms and fishponds with salt
farms shall be lodged with the DA-BFAR. All applications for salt farm leases,
including those submitted to the DENR, shall henceforth be processed by the DA-
BFAR. However, all existing salt farm lease agreements issued by DENR shall
remain valid until their expiration. Thereafter, application for renewal shall be lodged
with the DA-BFAR.


SEC. 10. Priority Areas for Salt Production. — Provinces with Type 1
climate, which include Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales,
Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique, and Marinduque, are hereby
declared priority areas for salt production. As such, these provinces shall be
prioritized in the national development of salt farms. The DENR shall identify and
map sites within these priority areas suitable for salt production, and the DA-BFAR
shall then issue the corresponding tenurial instrument to qualified applicants for the
development of salt farms in these areas.

SEC 11. Utilization of Public Lands Previously Intended for Fishpond
Development and Those With Existing Fishpond Lease Agreements (FLAs). —
All areas previously released to DA-BFAR for fishpond development that were not
issued with fishpond lease agreements (FLAs), or those areas previously covered by
FLAs but were subsequently cancelled or terminated or previously reverted, are
hereby automatically identified as areas suitable for salt production that may be
issued with tenurial instruments by DA-BFAR.

Existing FLAs shall also include salt farming or production as among the valid
activities that may be undertaken by the leaseholder under the condition that the
required annual commercial fish and/or salt production under the existing FLA rules
and regulations is complied with. FLA holders who intend to venture into salt farming
shall be given the same support, training, and financing given to salt farmers and
producers, as provided under this Act.

SEC. 12. Identification of Additional Public Lands Suitable for Salt
Production. — Consistent with the Roadmap adopted by the PSIDC, the DENR shall
identify additional areas suitable for salt production. Once identified and mapped-out,
the DA-BFAR shall issue the appropriate tenurial instruments to qualified applicants.

SEC. 13. Municipal Waters. - As far as practicable, portions of municipal
waters adjacent to areas identified as suitable for salt farm development may be
included in the tenurial instrument, and as such, these municipal waters may also be
utilized as salt farms: Provided, That no critical habitat or spawning ground of fish
may be affected by the salt farm development in such municipal waters: and
Provided further, That the LGU concerned has been consulted.

SEC. 14. Qualifications of Tenurial Awardees. — Consistent with the
provisions of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall come up with the
qualifications of awardees of salt-farm tenurial instruments taking into account
relevant laws on the matter.


SEC. 15. Registration, Construction, and Lease of Salt Farms. — The DA-
BFAR shall facilitate the prompt registration of salt farms as well as assist in the
design, construction, and development of small-scale artisanal salt farms, either on
its own or through partnership with the private sector. The DOST, on the other hand,
shall provide the necessary technology in the construction of large-scale salt farms
employing modern technologies to increase production efficiency and
environmentally-sound practices.

The DENR shall promptly act on the processing and issuance of permits and
clearances, such as Environmental Compliance Certificates, prior to the
development of salt farms to ensure that such projects will not cause a significant
negative impact on the environment.

Individuals may lease up to five hundred (500) hectares of salt farms.
Corporations, associations, and cooperatives may lease up to one thousand (1,000)
hectares, A lease applicant may apply for a lease for more than one area and hold
several lease agreements, but in no case shall the total area covered by such
multiple lease agreements exceed the limits prescribed under this provision. Leases
shall have a tenure of twenty-five (25) years, renewable for another twenty-five (25)
years. Upon expiration of the second lease, the existing lease may apply for a new
lease over the same area. Lease rates for salt farm and fishponds shall be
determined by the DA-BFAR, and shall be aligned with the prevailing FLA rates.

SEC. 16. Periods for Approval of Salt Farm Lease Agreements and
Issuance of Tenurial Instruments; Termination. — The BFAR Provincial Officer
shall process new salt farm lease applications within sixty (60) calendar days, and
shall forward such application to the BFAR Regional Director, who shall have thirty
(30) calendar days to approve or return the application. When approved, the tenurial
instrument shall be issued to the applicant within the thirty (30)-day period.

For the renewal of the lease agreement, the BFAR Provincial Officer shall
process salt farm lease application within sixty (60) calendar days, and shall forward
such application to the BFAR Regional Director, who shall have fifteen (15) calendar
days to approve or return the application. Upon such approval, the BFAR Regional
Director shall issue the tenurial instrument to the applicant within the fifteen (15)-day
period.

For the transfer of leases, the BFAR Provincial Officer shall process such
application for transfer within sixty (60) calendar days, and shall forward such
application to the BFAR Regional Director , who shall have thirty (30) calendar days
to approve or return the application. Upon such approval, the BFAR Regional
Director shall issue the tenurial instrument to the transferee within the thirty (30)-day
period.

Unfavorable decisions by the BFAR Regional Director may be appealed by
the applicant to the BFAR National Director within thirty (30) calendar days from
receipt of such decision. Such appeal shall be resolved within sixty (60) calendar
days from receipt by the National Director. A copy of the decision shall be


immediately sent to the appellant and to the BFAR Regional Director concerned. In
case of favorable decision on the appeal, the concerned BFAR Regional Director
shall issue the tenurial instrument within seven (7) calendar days from receipt of said
favorable decision.

The DA Secretary shall issue the appropriate rules and guidelines for the
termination of salt farm lease agreements, and consequently the revocation of the
tenurial instruments issued pursuant to this Act.

SEC. 17. Promotion of Artisanal Salt and Non-Traditional Salt Farming
Methodologies and Techniques. - The PSIDC shall promote and support artisanal
salt farming, as well as available non-traditional alternative methods and techniques
of salt farming that allow year-round production of salt even under erratic weather
patterns. The introduction of new technology shall be preceded by R & D activities
spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture — National Fisheries Research and
Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) in close coordination with the DOST.

SEC. 18. Funding and Technical Support for the Development of Salt
Farms and Equipment. — The DA-BFAR shall provide funding and technical support
in the development and operation of salt farms. It shall also provide equipment and
other necessary support to salt farmers.

SEC 19. Construction of Salt Farm Roads, to be known as Daan Asinan.
— Consistent with the development plans on the revitalization of salt industry, the DA
shall, in coordination with the LGUs and salt farmers within the area, identify priority
locations of roads linking the salt farms to the market, to be known as Daan Asinan.
The DA shall take into account the investment for salt farm to be undertaken in the
area, the number of salt farmers and their families who shall benefit therefrom and
the amount of salt produced or potentially produced in the salt farms. Thereafter, the
DA shall undertake the construction, improvement, and maintenance of the Daan
Asinan.

SEC. 20. Training Programs. — The DA shall, together with other
government offices such as but not limited to the DOST, DTI , Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA), provide complementary training programs to develop and upgrade the
skills and competencies of salt farmers and producers, ensure product traceability
and compliance to food safety, technology acquisition including product labelling and
packaging, conduct continuous training on market positioning for Philippine artisanal
or specialty and industrial salts and such other skills necessary in the maintenance
and development of the local salt industry.


SEC. 21. Salt Farmers Cooperatives. - The CDA shall assist in the
formation of cooperatives of local salt farmers and producers in order that they can
economically engage in the production and distribution of Philippine salt. The CDA
shall also assist in the organizational strengthening, capacity-building, and financial
literacy training of salt farming and producing cooperatives and their members so
that they can leverage their resources, ensure sustainable operations, and increase
the number of successful cooperative-managed salt farms in the country.

SEC. 22. Labeling of Salt Made in the Philippines. - All salt produced or
manufactured in the Philippines for export shall be labeled as “Made in the
Philippines” in a prominent and conspicuous manner on the product, its packaging,
and accompanying documentation, and shall comply with the requirements of RA
7394, otherwise known as the “Consumer Act of the Philippines.”

For domestically produced salt intended for the local market, salt
manufacturers, producers or farmers are encouraged to provide a label “Made in the
Philippines.”

The DTI shall assist domestic salt manufacturers, producers or farmers on
this labeling requirement.

SEC. 23. Registration with DA-BFAR. — Salt farmers, producers and
importers of salt shall register with the BFAR.

The BFAR shall continue to implement measures ensuring compliance of salt
farmers with food safety laws and guidelines intended for human and animal
consumption: Provided, That salt which are not intended for food consumption, shall
not be subjected to food safety laws and guidelines. For this purpose, the BFAR
shall engage the expertise of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and
Natural Resources Research and Development and the Food and Nutrition
Research Institute.

SEC. 24. Importation of Salt. — No person shall import salt without securing
the appropriate authorization from the following agencies:

a) DOH-FDA and DA-BFAR - for food-grade salt; and
b) DA-BFAR - for industrial salt.
The DOH-FDA and DA-BFAR shall align and streamline their processes.

SEC. 25. Tarrification. - Tariff collections shall be automatically deposited in
a special account with the Bureau of the Treasury which shall be used for the
development of the salt industry, through the Salt Industry Development and
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.


Salt imports include imported products under the following Harmonized
System headings or ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature Codes, the
Descriptions:

2501 — Salt (including table salt and denatured salt) and pure sodium chloride,
whether or not in aqueous solution containing added anti-caking or free flowing
agents; sea water.

(i) 2501.00.10 - Table salt

(ii) 2501.00.20 - Unprocessed rock salt

(iii) 2501.00.50 - Sea Water

(iv) 2501.00.51 - Salt, denatured, industrial

(vy) 2801.00.91 - With sodium chloride content more than
60%

but less than 97%, calculated on a dry
basis,

fortified with iodine

(vi) 2501.00.93 - Other, with sodium chloride content 97% or
more but less than 99.9%, calculated on a
dry basis

(vii) 2501.00.99 3 Others

Tariff collection shall be automatically credited to a special account in the
general fund of the national treasury, which shall be in place within ninety (90) days
upon effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 26. Creation of the Salt Industry Development and Competitiveness
Enhancement Fund. — There is hereby created a Salt Development and
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, herein referred to as the “SIDCEF:”

Provided, That allocation and utilization of the SIDCEF shall be subject to the
following guidelines:

a) The Secretary of the DA shall be accountable and responsible for the
management and utilization of the said fund in coordination with the other
government agencies concerned;

b) The amount allocated shall be released directly to the implementing agencies
as provided for in this Act based on the objectives of the Salt Industry
Development Roadmap: Provided further, That the unutilized portion of the
SIDCEF shall not revert to the general fund but shall continue to be used for
the purpose for which it was set aside. The fund releases shall not be subject
to any ceiling by the DBM; and


c) Any program undertaken in accordance with this Act shall only be deemed
complementary and supplementary to, and shall not be replacement of any
existing programs for the fisherfolk already implemented by the DA-BFAR and
other agencies concerned

SEC. 27. Review of the Salt Tariff Rates. — Consistent with the policies of
this Act, the Tariff Commission shall review the most favored nation or MFN in-quota
and out-quota tariff rates on salt imports originating from non-Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), World Trade Organization (WTO) member
states. Within sixty (60) days following the effectivity of this Act, the Tariff
Commission shall recommend to the National Economic and Development Authority
Board the possible MFN in-quota and out-quota rate adjustments for salt imports that
will ensure the competitiveness of the local industry.

SEC. 28. Powers of the President. — The President, consistent with the
national interest of safeguarding Filipino salt producers, is hereby empowered to act
with delegated authority to revise or adjust existing rates of customs duties on salt
imports under the WTO Agreement on agriculture under ASEAN Trade in Goods
Agreement or ATIGA, including any necessary change in classification: Provided,
That the adjustment is time-bound and the power herein delegated to the President
shall only be exercised when Congress is not in session: Provided, further, That any
order issued by the President adjusting the applied tariff rates shall take effect fifteen
(15) days after publication.

The power herein delegated to the President may be withdrawn or terminated
by Congress through a joint resolution in accordance with the provisions under
Section 1609 of RA 10863 or the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act or the
MTA."

SEC. 29. Trade and Export Assistance. — The DTI and DA shall assist and
support local salt farmers in the trade and exportation of domestically-produced salt.
It shall enhance the capabilities and global competitiveness of potential and existing
producers and exporters of salt through export financing; business matching;
provision of trade and market information; organization of trade fairs and business
missions; conduct of seminars, workshops, conferences and symposium on export-
related subjects, including export documentation and procedures; product design
and development; market consultancy; and product consultancy.

SEC. 30. Prioritization of Domestically-Produced Salt. —- The government
shall prioritize the use of domestically-produced salt in its programs, including the
fertilization of coconut farms by the Philippine Coconut Authority.


SEC. 31. Incentives. — The following incentives shall be provided to investors
in salt farm development and salt processing facilities:

a) The Board of Investments shall classify salt farms as preferred areas of
investment under its Investment Priorities Plan subject to pertinent rules and
regulations;

b) The salt farmers and processors shall be given priority to access credit
assistance and guarantee schemes being granted by government finance
institutions; and

c) Salt farm development and their equipment shall be covered by the Philippine
Crop Insurance Corporation.

SEC. 32. Research. — The DA-NFRDI shall conduct research, either on its
own or in collaboration with state universities and colleges and other stakeholder
research institutions, to enhance the technological development, provide applicable
policy direction, and develop innovative project-based interventions that may be
adopted and implemented to achieve the objectives of this Act.

The DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology
Research and Development Council (PCIEERD), as lead together with other relevant
DOST offices and agencies shall develop and implement a comprehensive program
for the acquisition, design, and manufacture of salt iodization equipment, and
transfer of the salt iodization technology to salt producers/manufacturers.

SEC. 33. Human Resources Development. — All stakeholders in the salt
industry shall contribute to the development of a sustainable human resource for the
industry. Towards this end, the DOLE, in collaboration with the duly recognized salt
associations and salt cooperatives, the Commission on Higher Education, the
TESDA, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the CDA and the private
sector, shall formulate and implement a Human Resources Development (HRD)
Master Plan for the salt industry which shall include, among others, the following:

a) Capacity building, skills trainings, and institutional strengthening of the salt
farm workers, salt farmers, salt farming and producing cooperatives, and their
organizations to actively contribute in productivity and competitiveness;

b) Scholarship program for the underprivileged but deserving college and post
graduate students who are taking up courses in relevant fields of discipline in
state universities and colleges which have programs in agriculture, agricultural
engineering and mechanics, and chemical engineering/salt technology; and
for vocational courses and skills development for farmers and farm
technicians, and skilled workers in salt farms; and

c) Conduct of capability training or attendance to local or international trainings
and seminars by salt farmers and workers.


SEC. 34. Mandatory Salt lodization; Exemptions and Incentives. —
Imported food grade salt shall continue to comply with the mandatory iodization as
provided under the provisions of RA 8172. Domestically-produced salt including
industrial salt shall be exempt from said mandatory iodization. However, as provided
under Section 6 (k) and (I) of this Act, PSIDC may exercise its power to require the
mandatory iodization of domestically-produced salt and may exempt the mandatory
iodization of imported food grade salt.

The DTI, DOH, and DOST-PCIEERD shall develop, enhance, implement and
sustain programs that will encourage and incentivize local salt producers to iodize
the salt that they produce and manufacture for human and animal consumption

SEC. 35. Role of LGUs. - The LGUs with areas suitable for salt production
shall, as far as practicable, establish their respective Salt Industry Development Task
Force. The LGUs shall regularly conduct a survey of existing salt farms and salt
enterprises in their respective localities. Each local Salt Industry Development Task
Force shall conduct a survey of existing salt processing enterprises that are
operating in the locality. In cooperation with the DA-NFRDI, DENR, DTI and the
appropriate DOST-Regional Office, and in consultation with the DA and BFAR, they
shall identify and map appropriate areas for local salt production.

The LGUs shall also enact local ordinances to support the development of
Philippine sea salt, artisanal, gourmet, and specialty salt produced in their respective
municipalities or cities, implement appropriate measures to ensure the ease-of-doing
business and ensure that salt farmers or producers and local gourmet outlet owners
are free from harassment on alleged non-compliance with iodization requirements.
Law enforcement units, including members of the Philippine National Police, shall
ensure that domestic salt farmers and producers are not unduly burdened.

SEC. 36. Agencies’ Regular Programs. — The mandates, functions and
activities of the various departments and agencies identified in this Act shall be
considered regular programs and shall be included in their annual budgets.

SEC. 37. Reporting. — The various departments and agencies specified in
this Act shall provide regular updates to the PSIDC on the progress of their programs
and activities toward the realization of the objectives of this Act.

SEC. 38. Congressional Oversight. - The Congressional Oversight
Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM) shall ensure the
full implementation of this Act.


SEC. 39. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations
of the departments and agencies concerned. Thereafter, such amount as may be
necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 40. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The PSIDC created
under Section 5 of this Act shall be convened within sixty (60) days from the
approval of this Act. Thereafter, it shall issue the implementing rules and regulations
to efficiently carry out the provisions of this Act within one hundred twenty (120) days
from approval of this Act.

SEC. 41. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 42. Repealing Clause. - The pertinent provisions of RA 8172, RA
8550, otherwise known as the “Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998,” as amended, are
hereby modified or amended accordingly. Further, all laws, decrees, orders, rules,
and regulations or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 43. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved,