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DA urges LGUs to join fight vs. Panama Disease
EXPORT CAVENDISH BANANAS in a Davao City plantation facing serious threat from the deadly Panama Disease
BY ROGER M. BALANZA
The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region Eleven has urged local government units to join the battle against Panama Disease or fusarium wilt, a deadly fungal banana disease that is threatening the region’s top dollar-earning industry.
“The LGUs could help us in putting in place necessary quarantine measures and in pushing for issuance of local ordinances for farmers and the public to comply,” said DA regional director for Davao Region Oscar Parawan.
Parawan said DA XI is coordinating closely with banana companies and the LGUs for strategies to combat the disease and save the local banana industry.
Banana growers in the Davao Region said the dreaded disease has already affected several banana plantations.
“It is an industry killer and for Mindanao, an economy killer,” Alex Valoria, president of the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), said of the destructive fungal plant disease.
In Mindanao, 79,300 hectares are planted to export-quality Cavendish varieties.
The Philippine Cavendish banana industry pumps an estimated US$400 million in export earning for the country, according to Stephen Antig, PBGEA executive-director.
Antig said the disease was spotted in Calinan in Davao City about three years ago and has since spread to banana plantations in Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur.
Panama Disease brought to its knees the banana industry in Malaysia three years ago.
The fusarium wilt fungus, which already attacked several plantations across the region, has been identified as the recent strain Tropical Race 4. Presently, it has no cure and cannot be controlled by fungicide.
The fungus is carried by humans, dogs, cats, pigs and car tires. Rainwater can also carry the fungus thus spread easily from upland farms to lowland plantations.
As a first step in fighting the deadly banana disease, Parawan said the DA High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) has organized a multi-agency task force that includes PBGEA and [Mindanao Banana Growers and Exporters Association) to conduct massive information campaign on the disease and set up quarantine measures.
Parawan said DA is recommending passage of ordinances by LGUs preventing farmers from moving planting materials such as suckers and rhizomes out of infected areas.
Panama Disease killing Davao bananas
Banana growers in the Davao Region are alarmed over the onset of the dreaded Panama Disease, which has already affected several banana plantations.
“It is an industry killer and for Mindanao, an economy killer,” Alex Valoria, president of the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), said of the destructive fungal plant disease.
The fungus, which already attacked several plantations across the region, has been identified as the recent strain Tropical Race 4. Presently, it has no cure and cannot be controlled by fungicide.
Stephen Antig, PBGEA executive-director, said the disease was spotted in Calinan in Davao City about three years ago.
It has spread to banana plantations in Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur.
The fungus is carried by humans, dogs, cats, pigs and car tires. Rainwater can also carry the fungus thus, it can spread easily from upland farms to lowland plantations.
Panama Disease destroyed the Malaysian banana industry three years ago.
In Mindanao, there are about 245,000 hectares planted to bananas with 79,300 hectares devoted to export-quality Cavendish varieties.
Belmonte, PBGEA in ‘banana talks’
The banana industry in the Davao Region has lured Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte into serious ‘banana talks’ as the dollar-earning industry is battered by various issue.
The Speaker got a recent full briefing on the Philippine export banana industry from growers and exporters at the field office of the Tagum Development Corp. (Tadeco) in Barangay A.O. Floirendo in Panabo City, said Stephen A. Antig, executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA).
Speaker Belmonte was briefed on the current state of Mindanao’s flagship industry and the legislative interventions needed to strengthen its position in the global banana market, said Antig. “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,” he said.
“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,” Antig said.
Davao banana industry sees $1-billion annual export
In five years, a top official of a grouping of banana exporters said export earnings could rocket to $1-billion per year.
The growth could spin off into more employment opportunities in the industry, said Stephen Antig, executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA).
Antig spoke of his projections during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Senator Francis Pangilinan.
“All it takes is the same passion, hard work, resourcefulness and commitment to the protocols of a science-based and precision agriculture which built the industry the past forty-four years,” Antig told the committee.
The growth is starting now, said Antig, citing the forty-four percent increade in shipments due to the steady increase in the population and income of its main markets, East Asia and the Middle East.
The hearing focused on the serious decline in the shipments of Philippine bananas to Iran due to an economic embargo imposed by the United States against said country.
DA assures to open new markets for Davao banana
Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala assured banana growers and exporters in Mindanao sure market for their products, as he spoke before businessmen during the opening ceremony of the 12th Davao Trade Exhibit yesterday (November 5) at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, this city.
“Sinisiguro po namin na hindi mabubulok ang mga saging natin ditto sa Mindanao,” Alcala said following the recent clarification of the Iranian government exempting Philippine bananas as banned products to the said country.
The banana export industry recently announced that the Iranian government no longer include Philippine bananas, papayas, and pineapples in the list of 49 fruits the country banned fro importation.
Alcala, however, clarified that the banana export industry is rather faced by the lack of a letter of credit to be handled by banks in the said country.
The Department of Agriculture, nevertheless, is looking for ways to address this issue.
If incase the export to Iran will not push through, Alcala assured the exporters alternative markets that can absorb the banana export production.
“We have identified four new markets wherein we can export our bananas,” he said. The industry is looking forward to get more orders from Japan, continue exporting to China, and finalize agreement with Australia.
The city government of Davao expressed support if incase the export of bananas to Iran will be stalled.
City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the city’s role would focus on looking for emergency employment for those who will lose jobs.
It was expected that the Iran embargo would result to massive lay off in the banana industry.
Data released by the Philippine Quarantine Service pegged Iranian demand for Philippine bananas at 32 billion boxes last year. It generated foreign exchange earning of P4.8 billion to the Philippine economy, benefiting 216,000 residents in Mindanao provinces. (PIA-XI)
Bananas play star
in Davao City expo
Leaders have stressed on the other uses or products that can be derived from banana in a bid to further the growth of the industry.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, in a press conference conducted during the opening of the 12th Davao Trade Expo (DATE) at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Convention Hall on Friday, said the use of banana as extender to various food products can greatly help enhance the industry’s growth.
“Ang paggamit ng saging bilang extender ay napakalaking bagay. Halimbawa nito ay ang paghahalo ng saging sa sinaing (The use of banana as an extender is a big thing, like mixing it in cooked rice),” he said.
On the other hand, Department of Trade and Industry-Davao City Field Office (DTI-DCFO) director Teolulo T. Pasawa said the introduction of Pinoy fries in the world market is another innovation that can boost the banana industry.
“Pinoy fries, which is actually made of saba variety of banana, ay pantapat natin sa French fries na gawa sa patatas (is equivalent to French fires from potatoes),” Pasawa said.
Pinoy fries are being produced by Sagrex Foods of renowned local businessman Ferdinand Y. Maranon.
In January of 2005, Maranon registered the banana fries with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and the microwavable frozen ripe banana two months after. Both products were regarded as the “firsts” in the world which means that anybody or any company who would like to sell the products should initially ask permission from Maranon.
Last February 23 to March 5, 2007, the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) Davao spearheaded the trade and investment mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) with the support of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) local government, Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), Mindanao Business Council (MinBC), and Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, inc. (DCCCII).
Maranon was with the 14-man delegation.
According to Maranon, the KSA mission has given him so much opportunity especially that the country is home to 1.4 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
To date, the Pinoy fries, along with the microwavable and honey glazed saba banana, are gaining popularity not only in KSA but also in the United States, Canada, and the rest of the Middle East. Among the other potential markets for these products are Japan, Korea and Australia.
Both Alcala and Pasawa are hoping that more banana derivatives will be produced soon. (PNA)
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Smear campaign vs. Davao bananas slammed
By ROGER M. BALANZA
The banana industry has scored an environmental activist for using Japanese media to call for a boycott by Japanese of Davao bananas.
According to a coalition of banana farm cooperatives in the Davao Region, Lia Esquillo-Villarin, of Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) has “bad manners and was grossly anti-Filipino” for calling on the Japanese consumers to boycott Davao Region;s major dollar earning industry.
Esquillo-Villarin in a report by Kyodo News Agency was also quoted as saying that “Philippine banana companies are only after profit” and urged the Japanese to write banana grower and importer Sumifru to abandon aerial spraying she alleges as threats to public health and the environment. Aerial spraying however is approved by the government.
Idis is in the forefront of opposition to aerial spraying in banana plantations in the Davao Region.
Ceferino Buquia, chair of the Checkered Farms Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative said that Esquillo-Villarin insulted Philippine political and social institutions with her display of crab-mentality.”
Industry sources however say that they are not bothered at all by Esquillo-Villarin’s antics as “the Philippine export banana industry strictly adheres to all the protocols of ensuring the quality and safety of bananas and at the same time protecting people’s health and the environment established by the Japanese Ministry of Health. Labour and Welfare.”
One of the leading companies, UNIFRUTTI, is also affiliated with Rainforest Alliance which actively promotes environmental protection while others are ISO-certified which means that they follow good agricultural practices.
“We gain nothing by bickering over issues of health and the environment that have been resolved,” said PBGEA President Stephen A. Antig.
PBGEA bares scholars
Eighteen students, fifteen of them high school and three in college, have been awarded scholarship grants by the Banana Export Industry Foundation (BEIF).
“They are all freshmen, are sons and daughters of growers or workers in the export banana industry with a net taxable annual income of not more than P200,000 and enrolled in various schools in the Davao Region, Socsargen, Caraga and in the provinces of Bukidnon and North Cotabato,” said Ms. Betty Francia, PBGEA-BEIF Executive Assistant.
Francia said that the high school scholars were picked from 59 applicants nominated by member-companies of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) after passing tests administered by the privately-run Center for Educational Measurement while the college freshmen came from the ranks of the foundation’s high school scholars who recently graduated and also topped the qualifying tests.
The topnotchers in the high school category, Kamhel Joyce Polino of St. Mary’s College of Kidapawan and Kaye Lynor Love V. Pinsoy of the Alabel National Science High School were awarded P30,000 for tuition and other fees plus a monthly stipend of P500. Both got a rating of 99+% in the qualifying tests.
The scholarship program was established some-time in the early 80’s and that the foundation’s “cream of the crop” includes the ertswhile president of the National Power Corporation Guido Delgado, Atty. Gil Garcia of the Social Security System, Director Bliss Lantayona of the Department of Trade and Industry-Region 4 and Rev. Fr. Paterno Labasano of Hawaii.
PRES. ARROYO SHIES AWAY FROM AERIAL SPRAY BAN
MYVIEWS
Idis, Maas run berserk
By ROGER M. BALANZA
First they forged the signature of Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla in an alleged church issuance supporting aerial spraying. Then they insulted Court of Appeals justices in Cagayan de Oro by gifting them with rotten bananas for thrashing the Davao City ordinance banning aerial spraying. Running amok after shaming the justices, they chained themselves at the gates of the justice building, which was followed by a die-in at a Cagayan de Oro City main avenue where they disrupted traffic and were arrested.
Inspired by a tsunami of donations from abroad, they held a vigil at the Supreme Court—where the Davao City ordinance is facing as dull a fate as it did in the appeals court in Cagayan de Oro City—believing that noises and lies could influence the high court against aerial spraying.
They have been peddling the lie that there are toxic showers from aerial spraying—a claim persistently denied by government agencies—with a nationwide campaign of toxic lies against the banana industry.
The pseudo-environmentalists just could not satisfy their hunger for publicity to sell the tall tale that aerial spraying is bad for the health.
Now, IDIS (Interface Development Interventions) and MAAS (Mamamayang Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying) are pushing their comical stunts farther, this time aiming their bazookas at Malacanang.
Hey, Philippines! These NGOs from Davao City—where NGO, because of IDIS and MAAS, now means No Good Organization—are nothing but a pack of paid hustlers using the aerial spraying issue to lure foreign donors for their cause that no one believes in the banana-growing Davao Region.
Malacanang on Thursday cancelled an executive meeting with government line agencies—that would have provided inputs on the fate of aerial spraying. At the center of discussion would have been a Department of Health order yet to be signed by Secretary Arthur Yap that would ban aerial spraying.
A motley group of IDIS and MAAS elements led a protest outside Malacañang Gate 5 over the cancellation of the executive meeting, with shaved heads, angry and frustrated. Some students from the Ateneo de Manila—who could not have seen a banana tree—joined the ruckus that hardly attracted attention.
The banana industry concentrated in the Davao Region and neighboring provinces is one of the biggest industries in the country employing more than 200,000 directly-hired workers and earning $400 million in exports annually.
Fungicide used in aerial spraying against the deadly black sigatoka is non-toxic, according to the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) which said that no one has died from exposure to aerial spraying in the forty years that it had been used in banana plantations in Davao. The claim by IDIS and MAAS that people have been dying in communities near the plantations, that they suffer from skin and respiratory diseases, also have been disputed by the Department of Health and the Regional Interagency Committee on Environment and Health in Region Eleven, and by a Special Investigating Team organized by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte composed of the City Planning and Development Office, the City Legal Office and the City Health Office.
Methink, Secretary Yap is misled by the tsunami of lies peddled by IDIS and MAAS. Methink, GMA, no matter her low regard for anything that pleases us, is smart enough not to believe liars, her self having much experience in the field of lying. Methink, GMA knows that aerial spraying is bad for the health of the banana industry and the hundreds of thousands of workers and their families depending on the industry; and good only for IDIS’ and MAAS’ clever agenda to get loads of dollars from foreign donor agencies.
That is the reason why GMA aborted the Thursday meeting with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
GMA has no time to discuss Secretary Yap’s pending order banning aerial spraying or IDIS’ and MAAS’ lies against aerial spraying. GMA has made her mind: banana and aerial spraying are here to stay and that IDIS’ and MAAS’ arguments against the industry are as rotten as rotten bananas.
If GMA is running for president in 2010, I would campaign and vote for her for saving the banana industry. Unfortunately, she could not.
NOW IDIS AND MAAS ARE ANGRY.
“This wasn’t the only reason that angered us but also Malacañang’s corresponding order to create a task force to study on aerial spraying,” said Lia Esquillo, IDIS chairman, in an interview with Sunstar Davao. The study, according to her, is a win-win situation for the banana industry: the study could turn in favor of export Cavendish bananas’ battle against sigatoka—a fast spreading leaf disease that could cripple the dollar earning industry—or could be used by banana farmers to continue aerial spraying until after the completion of the study.
Malacanang is siding with the banana plantations, Esquillo said.
“What we’ve kept on saying was that all three departments, DA, DOH, DENR, have already given their reactions that aerial spraying is harmful then why do we still have to conduct more study? These are all executive bodies. Why question their observations?” Esquillo said.
Oooops! Methink, Ms. Lia is lying again.
DA, DOH, DENR merely adopted a study commissioned two years ago conducted by a team from the University of the Philippines in Camocaan, Hagonoy, Davao Del Sur, indicating threat to health from aerial spraying. Ms. Lia should tell her public that that study had been declared “inconclusive” and has been subjected to peer review to validate its findings. If there are rotten bananas, there are also studies that are shot full of rotten data.
When it comes to lying, MAAS and IDIS are good at mobilizing loudspeakers to reecho the lies to the border of truth.
“The government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo missed the opportunity to correct gross injustice that has been happening for over 30 years by playing into the hands of corporate interest,” said National Task Force Against Aerial Spraying (NTFAAS) coordinator Rene Pineda, said the report in Sunstar, NTFAAS is an offspring of IDIS led by Esquillo and MAAS founded by Dags Magaway. When two liars cohabitate, they sire nothing else but a liar.
“Malacañang’s inaction manifests its lack of concern to the plight and health of ordinary people. It also failed to make decisive action despite recommendation from it very own Health Department,” said Manny Calonzo, president of the EcoWaste Coalition. DOH, FPA and Davao City Hall have said no one has died nor has contracted disease from exposure to aerial spraying and Calonzo would know this if he visits Davao City Council records of proceedings on the aerials spray ban ordinance and the banana plantations in Davao City where banana farmers and growers have declared Esquillo and Magaway as persona non grata for lying against industry that fed them for decades.
“Natiis naming tumira dito sa Maynila ng limang buwan at matulog sa tabi ng kalsada tapos ito ang pamasko ni Presidente Gloria? Wala talaga siyang awa sa aming mga mahihirap,” said Loloy Languitan, a farmer from Maragusan, Compostela Valley. My advice to Loloy is that he ask in what five-star hotel Esquillo and her gang checked in while he slept in the sidewalks.
“We will go back to Davao to tell people that GMA (Arroyo) has blood in her hands. She is condoning the silent massacre of thousands of helpless rural poor living in banana plantations,” said Tom Villarin of the Siad Initiatives in Mindanao Convergence for Asset Reform and Rural Development (Simcarrd), an NGO promoting sustainable agriculture and member of NTFAAS. Would the Dabawenyos believe you, Mr. Villarin?
Labor bureau: Aerial spray ban a threat to Davao economy
By ROGER M. BALANZA
