House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” R. Belmonte got a full briefing on the Philippine export banana industry yesterday from growers and exporters at the field office of the Tagum Development Corporation in Barangay A.O. Floirendo in Panabo City.
Stephen A. Antig, executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) said, “The briefing fully apprised Speaker Belmonte on the current state of Mindanao’s flagship industry and the legislative interventions needed to strengthen its position in the global banana market.”
“The hour-long briefing was in line with the association’s thrusts this year to expand the export market of Philippine bananas and ensure the full recovery of the industry,” said Antig.
The industry suffered a slump last year after being hit by an extended dry spell and the sudden slowdown of its Middle East market as a result of the US embargo on Iran.
The Regional Development Council and industry stakeholders identified an 18-point package of long-term and short-term options, among them the opening of new markets, counter-trade arrangements with Iran and the legislation of laws regulating the aerial spraying of low-dose fungicide based on incontrovertible scientific facts.
“We provided the speaker with inputs for legislation such as the establishment of a banana research and development institute that will explore the wide range of economic potentials of bananas,” said Antig.
Antig said that trade missions to East Asia are now in the offing while the Philippine embassy in Iran is being staffed as a result of earlier initiatives by Senator Francis Pangilinan, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, and committee member Senator Teofisto Guingona Jr.
“We are looking at the possibility of a one-billion-dollar per annum Philippine export banana industry,” declared Antig as he expressed optimism that the challenges now posed on the industry will be decisively addressed by government and by industry stakeholders, especially the corporate components. [PhilDEVCOM]
