SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) intends to expand the salt farms in Occidental Mindoro to enhance salt production in the province.
BFAR OIC Provincial Fishery Officer Edgar Payas said the initiative will be carried out under the Development of Salt Industry Project (DSIP), which is part of their goal to develop the salt industry to achieve national salt self-sufficiency and potentially allow the country to profit from salt exports.
A major step undertaken by BFAR Occidental Mindoro is encouraging small-scale salt producers to form associations to qualify for various programs offered by the agency, including the expansion of salt farms.
Several beneficiary groups, particularly various salt producers, have already received training and essential equipment for constructing salt beds which include UVC pipes, wood, and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) salt drying platforms.
Payas explained that these HDPE salt drying platforms are designed to help beneficiary associations reduce the costs associated with building salt beds.
The salt farm of Tadlok Bulalo Salt Producers Association (TBSPA), located in Barangay Laste, Magsaysay, uses High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) salt drying platforms. (Photo credit: BFAR Occidental Mindoro)
Traditional salt bed construction requires a higher investment due to the need for clay tiles sourced from Vigan City.
One success story of BFAR’s initiative is the Tadlok Bulalo Salt Producers Association (TBSPA), located in Brgy. Laste, Magsaysay town.
TBSPA chairperson Jaime De Los Santos, who has extensive experience in salt production, noted that there is no significant difference in the quantity and quality of salt produced using HDPE compared to clay tile salt beds.
“Ito namang kalidad ng asin ay nakasalalay sa alat ng tubig bago ito ilipat sa salt beds,” De Los Santos said.
(The quality of salt depends on the salinity of the water before it is transferred to the salt beds.)
The TBSPA, established this year with 17 members, manages 41 hectares of land they plan to convert into salt farms.
“Sa 41 ektaryang lupang pag-aari ng samahan, lima pa lamang dito ang may salt beds na yari sa HPDE na nakapag-prodyus ng 7,000 bags ngayong taon,” De Los Santos said.
(Out of the 41 hectares owned by the association, only five hectares currently have HDPE salt beds, which produced 7,000 bags of salt this year)
While this yield is small compared to those of large-scale salt producers, De Los Santos is optimistic that with the collective efforts of all their members, they will eventually achieve similar success.
He also expressed hope that alongside BFAR, the local government will provide additional support to small-scale start-up salt producers like them. (VND/PIA MIMAROPA-Occidental Mindoro)
