Vision
PCCI is the voice of Philippine business recognized by government and international institutions. As a proactive catalyst of development, PCCI promotes and supports the drive for globally competitive Philippine enterprises in partnership with government, local chambers, and other business organizations.
Mission
The main responsibility of PCCI is to provide focused advocacy for business growth and sustainable development by providing business services for the advancement of grassroots entrepreneurship, chamber development, international trade relations, business innovation and excellence, and operating efficiency. These will be achieved through a professional organization working in close cooperation with various stakeholders in public and private sectors.
Revival of salt industry to create additional jobs
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), has expressed it support to House Bill 1976, the proposed Philippine Salt Industry Development Act. The said bill was approved by the House Committee on Agriculture and Food last May 11, 2023.
The Technical Working Group chaired by Cong. Mark Enverga approved the substitute bill outlining plans to revive the local salt industry. The bill draws up a government strategy that aims to boost local salt production and lead the country towards salt self-sufficiency and an export-ready industry through stronger government support in the areas of technical, financial, training and trade and export assistance to salt farmers. The bill also requires government to invest in the identification and construction of salt farms for lease to qualified salt farmers, whether individuals, cooperatives, or corporations.
An important component of the bills is the drafting of a Philippine Salt Industry Development Roadmap (PSIDR) and the creation of the inter-agency Philippine Salt Industry Development Council that will implement all programs related to the development and management of the Philippine salt industry.
The Roadmap will lay down short-, medium-, and long-term development plans needed to increase production and make the Philippines a net exporter of salt. PSIDR seeks to expand the number of salt-producing areas and promote public and private investment in industry development programs, and categorize salt-producing areas into artisanal, gourmet, and iodized salt centers while developing salt ecotourism. The roadmap would also introduce a new salt development technology and promote public and private investments in salt development programs.
Additionally, the bill also classifies salt as an agricultural product which will give the Department of Agriculture jurisdiction. Applications for salt farm leases will then be handled by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Currently, the salt industry is overseen by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Expressed its support to the bill, the PCCI jointly with the Philippine Exporters Confederation and the Export Development Council, observed that while the country has the fifth longest shoreline in the world at 36,000 kilometers, it continues to import around 93% of its salt requirement
The group cited the study made by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Health, and the National Nutrition Council that emphasized salt as an essential ingredient for household items, food processing, water treatment, feeds, and fertilizers for the coconut industry, among others. Salt has over 14,000 uses and is an important raw material for the production of many high value products and chemicals, making it a key product for agro-industrial development and the development of the country’s chemical industry.
Given these, attaining salt self-sufficiency will generate the following:
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Jobs: Reviving the industry has the potential to generate 100,000 green jobs especially in the countryside and save foreign exchange from importing 550,000 metric tons of salt every year. This figure constitutes around 93% of the salt requirement of the country.
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Exports: World export of salt in 2021 exceeded $2.59 billion. In Asia alone, total salt trade is estimated at 20,000,000 MT valued at US$1.2 billion, mainly supplied by Australia and China. The Philippines is closer to its ASEAN neighbors compared to Australia, giving it logistics advantage. Its export of salt in 2020 went down to US$67,894 from $190,029 in 2019.
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Value added products: A huge local salt industry will pave the way for value added chlor-alkai chemicals made from salt. These include hydrochloric acid, caustic soda, baking soda, soda ash, and many others. This market is about 3 times bigger in economic value than salt today. It is estimated to be worth P9 billion worth of imported goods mostly from China.
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Additional government revenues/resources: At the current DA-BFAR rate of P1,500.00 per hectare per year, the government may expect rental income of at least P28 million per year. This is in addition to the corporate and personal income taxes that will be generated from the new investments and jobs. --- Ma. Joanna Pascual, Rhuby Conel