Banana hectarage limit hit

Manila— Stakeholders of the country’s $720-million banana industry have voiced concern over attempts by a foreign-funded lobby to push for the reimposition of hectarage limits on banana plantations.

In a statement, the head of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) said that an anti-industry group has been pushing for the repeal of an old order that removed size limits on land planted to bananas—Mindanao’s largest export product by value.

According to the group, IDIS has been urging Malacañang to repeal Executive Order No. 807 issued by President Macapagal-Arroyo, which lifted hectarage caps on export-oriented banana farms, set by the Letter of Instruction 790 of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

IDIS contends that EO 807 is unconstitutional and must be repealed as opening up land for banana plantation expansion would jeopardize food production to ensure food security for Filipinos.

But the PBGEA describes “the campaign as part of a renewed multi-pronged effort against the Philippine export banana industry.”

“But [we are] confident that the national leadership will resolve the question of EO 807’s constitutionality for the best interest of the Filipino people and country,” PBGEA executive director Steve Antig said.

The Philippines is now the only Southeast Asian country producing and exporting Cavendish bananas, and is the second biggest exporter of the product in the world.

Renante Bangoy of the 911 Save Our Sagingan Movement said that IDIS’ claim of the export banana industry jeopardizing the country’s food production program was “totally baseless and irrational,” noting that the total land area planted to export bananas has been less than one percent of the total agricultural land area of Mindanao.

“Despite this limitation, export bananas generate an average of $720 million in yearly export earnings for the country, provide employment to 240,000 workers, provide local government units with an average of P830 million in taxes,” said Bangoy.

/INQUIRER