The Department of Trade and Industry assured the country has a sufficient supply of salt.
The assurance came after the DTI approved an increase in salt prices.
“We have sufficient supply,” Trade Usec. Ruth Castelo said, adding the country would not experience a supply shortage as it has four large salt manufacturers and plenty of imported salt.
Castelo said the recent price hikes for salt were granted because these prices have been unchanged for roughly six years.
“Itong mga manufacturers na ito ay sobrang tagal na na hindi nagtataas ng presyo. Parang umabot na ng four, five, six years bago sila nag-request ulit. So sa computations natin, talaga namang dapat lang na itaas natin ang presyo,” she said.
Based on the DTI’s suggested retail price (SRP) bulletin released on Aug. 12, the prices of several salt brands have increased.
The SRP for iodized rock salt was set at P21.75 for 500 grams and P23 for 1 kg.
The DTI also approved the P4.50 SRP for a 100-gram pack of iodized salt, P9 to P12.75 for 250 grams, P16 to P23.25 for 500 grams, and P29 for one kg.
The Department of Agriculture said it plans to improve the local production of salt to stop the country’s dependence on imports.
This was after the DA noted the Philippines imports about 550,000 metric tons of salt every year, or approximately 93 percent of the country’s salt requirement.– PNA
