Local consumers are encouraged to patronize locally-produced salt in Antique to support the industry.

Four local government units (LGUs) in the province that will serve as co-operators are recipients of PHP4 million worth of shared service facilities (SSF) for salt production from the Department of Trade and Industry.

“The salt that the four LGUs are producing is of good quality and really has potential in the market,” Antique Rep. Antonio Agapito Legarda said in an interview on Thursday.

Legarda and Senator Loren Legarda sourced the funding for the SSF that will benefit salt producers in the towns of Belison, Patnongon, Bugasong, and Laua-an on Tuesday.

They included a stainless steel water pump with engine, stainless cooking vat and evaporating pans, furnace with hopper, and chimney.

With the facilities, salt produced from Antique is expected to expand its market even up to Metro Manila.

DTI Antique Provincial Director Mutya Eusores, in a separate interview on Thursday, said the SFF in Belison, Patnongon, and Bugasong are complete while the procurement to complete the facilities in Laua-an is in process.

“With the equipment, the producers in the three towns could already make salt even during rainy days, thus increasing their production,” she said.

Eusores said the salt makers will use the open pan cooking method, where seawater is cooked in a furnace under a shed house, allowing production even during rainy days.

She added that with the increased production, there would already be a stable supply in the local market sold at competitive prices. (PNA)