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LINGAYEN CITY, Pangasinan — The country’s first research & development (R&D) Center for salt was officially inaugurated February 17, 2026, aiming to revitalize the Philippines’ salt industry and advance national self-sufficiency.
Dubbed the Accelerating Salt Research and Innovation (ASIN) Center, it was established here at Pangasinan State University (PSU), with funding support amounting to P43 Million from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and monitored by the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) under the NICER Program, the Niche Centers in the Regions for Research and Development.
ASIN Center’s inauguration also marks its operationalization, enabling it to respond directly to the decades-long challenges that have left the Philippines importing up to 93% of its salt supply.
“The establishment of this R&D facility came with a realization that the country cannot remain reliant on importation, knowing full well that we have a huge potential to become globally competitive on our own. The ASIN R&D Center will help deliver the research capacity and modern technology we’ve long lacked, so the Philippines can secure its own salt supply, strengthen local livelihoods, and ensure that an industry central to our daily lives never falls behind again,” said DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr.
Its establishment is supported by Republic Act (RA) No. 11985, or the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, which helps boost the salt industry by promoting the use of machines and new, affordable technologies to improve salt production.
The center has three divisions: the Membrane Science and Separation Technology Division, the Salt Division, and the Process Design and Engineering Division. All are equipped with advanced equipment to conduct highly applied research. The facility will serve as an extension of the Philippine government’s objective of making the nation self-sufficient in salt. It will provide support and address the needs of local salt industry through R&D on alternative salt production technologies, availability of salt testing facilities, technical consultancy, human resource development and science & technology (S&T) promotion.
Program Leader Eng’r Rex B. Basuel explained that through the ASIN Center, researchers from PSU can now develop a technology for cooked salt production. “We are expecting that through our efforts in the R&D we would be able to eliminate the use of additives such as Australian salt or Barara that increase the salinity concentration of the seawater from 33° to 20° Baumé, which is ideal prior to heating or cooking,” Basuel said.
He also added that through this method, this will reduce the dependency and expenses on salt importation since the system could concentrate seawater into an ideal salinity.
DOST Undersecretary for R&D Dr. Leah J. Buendia expressed her overwhelming support for this initiative. In her delivered message. She emphasized that the center reflects the principles of the three-horizon science, technology and innovation (STI) economic strategy.
“The ASIN center particularly supports the horizon focused on modernizing our micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). By introducing innovation and strengthening local capacity, we are helping MSMEs become more productive, competitive, and future-ready.”
DOST PCIEERD’s Deputy Executive Director and Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Executive Director Eng’r Niñaliza H. Escorial also shared in her message of support how the ASIN Center can be a catalyst of transformation, enabling local and regional researchers to provide practical solutions to regional challenges and gaps, like in Pangasinan.
“Innovation enhances livelihood, and this is the future of the Philippine salt industry, which is not just diluted in promises but backed with the strength of research and development and emerging technologies,” she emphasized.
Such technology will give the Philippines an edge by modernizing salt production, improving quality, increasing output, and cutting costs. It will also boost farmers’ income by lowering production costs, speeding up salt-making, and improving salt quality, she added. (/)