“HB 7357 seeks to address the revitalization of the local industry by providing the right government support services for its protection and direction, specifically those that involve production and development,” said Rep. LRay Villafuerte.
“The capital requirement for the machinery and technology for salt iodization was a heavy burden for local salt makers, leading many of them to drop one by one and shift to other livelihood sources,” the bill authors said. The proposed law gives local government units an important role: To work with the DA, BFAR, DTI, DOST- Forest Products Research and Development Institute and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute to identify appropriate areas for local salt production in their respective localities.