A says revival of the country’s salt industry will contribute to efforts to ease the country’s rising unemployment problem.
“The passage of the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act could not have come at a better time especially since unemployment in the country has been steadily increasing,” said AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee.
“We look forward to this important piece of legislation being signed into law by the President.
The measure was recently passed on third and final reading in the Senate with a 22-0 vote. The bill was approved by the House of Representatives in May.
Lee was the principal author of the House version of the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act.
The lawmaker expressed concern with the second consecutive increase in the country’s jobless rate, which is up to 4.8 percent in July from 4.5 percent in June, according to the latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
“This is a problem that must be closely monitored because fewer jobs means more hungry families. But for every problem, there are many solutions—and the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act is one of them,” said Lee. Maricel V. Cruz
The Bicolano lawmaker explained that reviving the industry has the potential to generate thousands of new jobs, particularly in the countryside and coastal communities. It would also help the country become salt self-sufficient, and avoid having to import some 500,000 metric tons of salt every year, equivalent to around 90 percent of the country’s salt requirement. Maricel V. Cruz