Only a third of the salt needed for human consumption in Western Visayas comes from local production, leaving the region heavily dependent on imports from other parts of the Philippines and abroad, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Western Visayas (BFAR-6). BFAR-6 reported that local salt production currently stands at 5,497 metric tons (MT), compared with the region’s requirement of 16,371 MT — covering only 33% of the demand. To fill the gap, Western Visayas sources salt from Negros Occidental, Mindoro, and countries such as China, India, and Australia. Negros Occidental alone contributes 50% of the region’s salt supply.

Castor, R. Z. (2026, April 10). W. Visayas relies on imported salt as local output meets only 33% of demand. DailyGuardian, pp. 1, 11.