MALACAÑANG vowed that the Marcos administration is taking steps to address problems that the Philippine’s banana industry is facing.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has already issued a directive, noting that the agriculture department has already requested for necessary funds.
“Nagkaroon na rin po ng direktiba ang Pangulo patungkol po dito at humingi na rin po ang Department of Agriculture ng pondo para po sa pest and diseases para sa banana farmers,” she said in a Palace press briefing on August 14.
Earlier, presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos urged the government to address the crisis in the banana industry and focus on production and research.
This as she warned of a steep decline in the country’s market share in key destinations such as Japan and China.
“Marketing efforts, while appreciated, cannot solve the fundamental issues we are facing,” the lawmaker said.
She added: “Our high production costs create a domino effect. We need a strategy built on ‘production, production, production’ – not importation of agricultural products.”
Castro noted that the government is working on the high seasonal tariffs in Japan currently at 8 percent during summer and 18 percent during winter.
The Palace official added that the government is strengthening its banana export production.
“Pero ngayon po ay pinapalakas pa rin po ang production ng banana cardaba for exports to Australia, US, Middle East and other potential markets; at pinapalakas na rin po ang pag-i-export ng steam and frozen bananas maliban pa po sa banana chips,” she stated. (ABS-CBN News)
