Section 6Sec./Art. 6

Functions of the Salt Council. - The Salt Council shall have the following powers and functions:

(a) Formulate the five (5)-year Salt Roadmap, which shall contain the short-term, medium-term, and long-term development plan (Development Plan) for the industry, which shall be updated yearly, or earlier, as determined by the Salt Council;

(b) Identify specific and priority programs and projects in support of, and in line, with, the Salt Roadmap;

(c) Provide development funds and technical assistance to salt farmers and the industry. The support shall be commensurate to the size of the salt farm;

(d) Implement the mechanization of salt production process through the provision of machinery and equipment such as, but not limited to, harvesters, and motor pumps to reduce operational cost;

(e) Identify sources of financing and facilitate credit windows with government banks and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) to expand the salt industry development;

(f) Increase production of local salt by increasing land area devoted to salt and improving farm productivity;

(g) Institutionalize capacity building for salt farmers through the BFAR provincial officers under the Fisheries Post-Harvest Technology Division (FPHTD);

(h) Strengthen market linkage and promotion of Philippine salt;

(i) Conduct continuing R&D on innovation and modernization of the salt industry;

(j) Establish an agri-insurance program for salt producers;

(k) Submit annual reports, not later than June 30, to the Office of the President and to each House of Congress, on the status of the implementation of the Salt Roadmap and the salt industry development in the country;

(l) Recommend to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the required yearly appropriations for the plan and implementation of the salt development programs;

(m) Promulgate such rules and regulations, and exercise such other powers and functions, as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act; and

(n) Constitute the staffing complement of the Program Management Office Secretariat with the power to create and abolish positions.