Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (26 October) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's One Town, One Product livelihood program in the country has opened the production of high grade salt in Gonzaga own in Cagayan province.

The introduction of the Fractional Crystallization Technology (FCT) by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) in barangays Sta. Cruz, Amunitan and Ipil in Gonzaga town, supported by the provincial government of Cagayan and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) would soon help villagers earn their income through the production of purity salt consists of 95 to 98 percent sodium chloride, commonly known as table salt.

Funds sourced out through the OTOP project was offered for individual salt producers as a loan with minimal interest.

Fractional crystallization allows salt producers in the villages to maintain their traditional method of watering the sand with sea water and washing it again with another volume of sea water to produce weak brine.

The FCT offers a more scientific method of producing salt through boiling of the weak brine, sedimentation and filtration until it reaches 24 degrees needed for crystallization. The process allows the elimination of unwanted elements and minerals which are present in sea water, thereby producing high purity salt.

With the FCT, initial production is computed at 35 kilograms within three hours compared to the traditional method of 54 kilograms in eight hours.