CAVITE, Philippines – Amid rise of industrial salt making, mang-iiras (traditional salt makers) in municipalities of Noveleta and Kawit in Cavite continue to breathe life to a dying tradition.
Due to massive land conversion in the area, only three irasan (salt farms) remain in the entire province, with salt makers having to make do with reduced production areas: two in Barangay San Rafael III in Noveleta and one in Barangay Sta. Isabel in Kawit.
Rolando Palustre, 63, known as “Ka Olan” in Barangay San Rafael III, said Noveleta’s salt farms offer his family not only livelihood but also a sense of pride in a craft that he has been doing for 45 years.
On average, salt makers produce P20,000 per production period, which lasts for five months from January to June.
“Sa mga buwang ito, sinasamantala ng mga mag-aasin ang matinding init ng araw upang matuyo ang tubig-dagat at mabuo ang mga kristal ng asin,” Palustre told Rappler in an interview in March.
