The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is targeting to complete the delivery of the PHP4 million worth of shared service facilities for salt making in four local government units (LGUs) of Antique by the third quarter of 2024.

“The four LGUs, which are the co-operators of the SSF, are receiving various equipment to enable salt makers in their municipalities to produce more salt even during the rainy season,” DTI Antique Provincial Director Mutya Eusores said in an interview Thursday.

The delivery of equipment started in Belison last year, and the rest of the recipients this year.

The stainless steel water pump with engine, stainless cooking vat and evaporating pans, furnace with hopper, and chimney have been delivered to their recipients.

“The equipment will enable our salt makers to produce salt that is of good quality and that is iodized,” Eusores said.

She said the salt production would be patterned after the open pan cooking method, where seawater is cooked in a furnace under a shed house that already existed in Belison.

“Unlike the common salt production method in Antique where seawater is being exposed under the heat of the sun, the open pan cooking method uses a furnace to make salt,” she added.

Eusores said the open pan cooking could enable salt makers to produce even during the rainy day.

Antique produced around 11.6 metric tons of salt during the peak season from January to June last year, according to a report from the Office of the Provincial Agriculture. (PNA)