Bolinao: The Pangasinan Salt Center in Barangay Zaragosa, Bolinao town, is set to increase its salt production to 8,500 metric tons (MT) from the previous 7,500 MT. This production is intended for agricultural-grade salt fertilizer, primarily used by coconut farmers.
According to Philippines News Agency, the increased production is scheduled to commence in late November and run through June 2026. Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Nestor Batalla mentioned in a phone interview that preparations have faced slight delays due to recent weather disturbances. The provincial government, currently managing the salt farm since 2023, has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) for an initial order of over 17,500 bags of 50-kilo agricultural-grade salt fertilizer.
The distribution of this fertilizer targets coconut farmers in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera Administrative Region. Central Luzon might order 25,000 bags, though this is still under negotiation. PCA’s total requirement stands at 1.5 million bags, with other companies or groups also bidding on the supply.
The salt fertilizer is priced between PHP750 to PHP800 per bag, and PCA’s project aims to enhance coconut productivity by rehabilitating low-bearing palms. Batalla noted that there are also direct buyers who purchase salt at the farm, and the provincial government is preparing projects to further boost salt production.
Gov. Ramon Guico III recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) for a Pilot Saltern Farm. This initiative allows MMSU to research improved salt production techniques using technology from India and Indonesia, adapted to the local climate.
The Pangasinan Salt Center’s efforts align with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s ‘Philippine Salt Industry Development Act,’ targeting the revitalization of the country’s salt industry. Currently, 93 percent of the country’s salt is imported from China and Australia, and there is a push to reduce this dependency and potentially become a net exporter of salt.
