Legislated funding eyed to revitalize ailing banana industry

The government and industry stakeholders are looking at legislating a plan that will not just revitalize the country's ailing banana sector but also salvage the country's eroding market share abroad.

- JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) and the Department of Agriculture are drafting a banana industry revitalization plan to immediately address the concerns of the local farmers, from production costs, pests and diseases to market competition.

PBGEA executive director Stephen Antig said the plan is similar to the salt industry development plan that was enacted into law earlier this year, which would utilize legislated funding to bankroll various programs and projects to reinvigorate the banana industry.

The salt industry development law earmarks tariffs collected from imported salt to bankroll programs to improve domestic production.

The banana revitalization plan will be turned into a legislative bill that will be pushed by both the government and private sector for enactment into law.

There have been previous attempts to enact a law that will bankroll certain programs for the improvement of the banana industry, especially with the worsening impact of Panama disease on farms and plantations.