UNESCO protects Bohol’s sea salt-making practice

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December 14, 2025 | 12:00am

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has included the practice of making asin tibuok, the artisanal sea salt of Alburquerque, Bohol, in UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.

The inscription of the asin tibuok in the UNESCO list was announced during the 20th session of the intergovernmental committee for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in Delhi, India on Dec. 10.

The ceremony was held at a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Red Fort Complex, according to the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

“The practice of making asin tibuok was inscribed on Dec. 9, marking a milestone as the first Philippine traditional food process to be included in the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list, and the seventh Philippine element across three UNESCO ICH lists,” the NCCA said in a post on social media.

Ernesto Renato Ottone Ramírez, UNESCO assistant director general for culture, and Fumiko Ohinata, secretary of 2003 UNESCO convention for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, presented a certificate to members of the Philippine delegation led by officials of the NMP and NCCA as well as Ambassador Josel Ignacio and Consul Melissa Anne Telan.

Salt maker Felix Pinlac Jr. represented the salt-making community of Alburquerque at the event.

The making of asin tibuok, which has been practiced since the early 1700s, is labor-intensive.

It involves filtering seawater through ashes from burnt coconut husks and cooking it in a clay pot for days until a solid, rock-hard salt is produced.

Gov. Aris Aumentado thanked UNESCO and his constituents for the honor.