Worth your salt

Through his SolAsin invention, John Carlo Luna Reyes has become the national winner of the 2025 James Dyson Award

- 

The Philippine archipelago, blessed with rich marine biodiversity and home to some of the world's most stunning beaches, faces an ironic reality: Despite being surrounded by seawater and the passing of the Salt Industry Development Law, the country still imports 93 percent of its salt supply.

Few people know that one of the rarest salts in the world—asin tibuok from Bohol—was once nearly lost due to the lack of support. The rise of commercialized salts, such as iodized and imported varieties, has further pushed down demand for local and artisanal salts. At the same time, many coastal residents lack the capital to build their own salt farms, forcing them to work for existing salt companies instead.