Section 28Sec./Art. 28

Creation of the Salt Industry Development and Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (SIFCEF). - The SIDCEF is hereby created from the salt tariff collections special account with the National Treasury. The SIDCEF shall exist for the next ten (10) years following the effectivity of this Act.

The allocation and utilization of the SIDCEF shall be subject to the following guidelines:

(a) The SIDCEF shall be earmarked, released, and implemented as follows:

(1) Provision of machinery and equipment, including sea water pumps, salt graders, salt harvesters, dump trucks and bagging machines, and salt iodization machines for beneficiaries who are into salt iodization; fifty percent (50%); to be utilized and implemented by BFAR.

(2) Establishment of salt farm warehouses/storage areas; forty percent (40%); to be constructed and implemented by DPWH;

(3) Conduct of extension services; five percent (5%); to be utilized and implemented by BFAR provincial offices; and

(4) Development of modern salt production and processing technology; five percent (5%) to be utilized and implemented by NFRDI:

Provided, That the beneficiaries of the SIDCEF are the salt cooperatives/associations of subsistence and small farmers fisherfolk: Provided, further, That the earmarking percentage shall be reviewed at the end of the fifth (5th) year following the effectivity of this Act, without prejudice to an earlier review if deemed necessary for possible revisions and upgrading based on changes in intervention priorities: Provided, furthermore, That the allocation and disbursement of funds shall focus on the provinces that have the most number of salt farms;

(b) At the end the fifth (5th) year from the effectivity of this Act, a mandatory review shall be conducted by the COCAFM to determine whether SIDCEF and its use as provided for under this Act shall be continued, amended, or terminated. The COCAFM shall utilize the increase or decrease in farmers' incomes as a primary benchmark in determining the effectiveness of the interventions under the SIDCEF and its possible extension;

(c) The Secretary of the DA and the BFAR Director shall be accountable and responsible for the management and utilization of the said fund in coordination with the other government agencies concerned;

(d) The amount allocated shall be released directly to the implementing agencies as provided for in this Act based on the objectives of the Salt Roadmap: Provided, That the unutilized portion of the SIDCEF shall not revert to the general fund but shall continue to be used for the purpose for which it was set aside. The fund releases shall not be subject to any ceiling by the DBM; and

(e) Any program undertaken in accordance with this Act shall only be deemed complementary and supplementary to, and shall not be a replacement of, any existing programs for the fisherfolk already implemented by the DA-BFAR and other agencies concerned.