Philippine Question: “Where Are The Salt Of The Earth?!” Answer: “We Filipinos Need To Import 92% Of Our Island-Wide Salt Requirements!”

Salt – We Ilocanos have an endearing little paean for it, and it runs thus: “Asin, asino ngata / Ti namalbaliw a daga? / Nalabit ammon ngata / Ta nalpaskon nga imbaga!” (My free translation: “Who, who do you think it is / Earth transforming itself? / Perhaps you already know / I’ve already told you so!) I memorized that little rhyme I guess 75 years ago, from my father Dionisio whose father, Graciano, came from Rosario, La Union.

Today, Thursday, 28 Dec 2023, I hear from another Ilocano, ex-Secretary of Agriculture William Dar, who comes from Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, that PH now imports 92% salt requirements! (28 Dec 2023, “Time To Revive The PH Salt Industry,” Manila Times, manilatimes.net). We Ilocanos cannot swallow that! I’m a native of Asingan, Pangasinan; notably, Dasol, Pangasinan, is the salt capital of the Philippines – we Pangasinenses cannot swallow that!
(“See Pangasinan” from seepangasinan.com, “Cooperatives” from cda.gov.ph)

Salt – how important is it to the body? Here’s Harvard School of Public Health (hsph.harvard.edu):

[Salt] flavors food and is used as a binder and stabilizer. It is also a food preservative… The human body requires a small amount of sodium to conduct nerve impulses, contract and relax muscles, and maintain the proper balance of water and minerals.

Salt – how important is it to the country?

Filipinos importing salt – As former President Ferdinand “FM” Marcos Sr put it: “Nakakahiya!” (Shameful!) Filane Mikee Cervantes says, according to Bicol Saro Party-List Rep Brian Raymund Yamsuan,  “PH Seen To Be Self-Sufficient With Revival Of Salt Industry” (19 Dec 2023, PNA, pna.gov.ph). We need a visionary leader to do that!

PH is 7,600+ islands. Mr Dar says, “With over 36,000 kilometers of shorelines, the Philippines has the potential to become an exporter of salt.” I say we have neglected that commercial potential because of leadership problems at the Department of Agriculture (DA) since time immemorial. I am sure that as Secretary of Agriculture appointed in 2019 by Pres Rodrigo Duterte, Mr Dar was going into energizing each of the DA 9 bureaus, 8 attached agencies & 8 attached corporations (da.gov.ph) – when he was distractingly shoved aside as DA Chief, when President Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr appointed himself interim DA Head. And no, BBM did not pursue what Mr Dar had initiated at the DA, what he called “The New Thinking for Agriculture” with its 8 paradigms (which you can download from here: sra.gov.ph), the paradigms being:
(“Importance Of Leadership” from medium.com)

1, Modernization must continue. 2, Industrialization of agriculture is key. 3, Promotion of exports is a necessity. 4, Consolidation of small- and medium-sized farms. 5, Infrastructure development would be critical. 6, Higher budget and investment for Philippine agriculture. 7, Legislative support is needed. 8, Roadmap development is paramount.

Progressive Philippines via Progressive Agriculture – we were going there when we were stopped. You cannot lead the Department of Agriculture if you do not have the Hands, Head, Health & Heart of an agriculturist in the first place!@517