Binay pledges support for banana growers in Davao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay pledged support to the already beleaguered banana industry, especially with more than 14,000 hectares of banana plantations wiped out when super typhoon “Pablo” struck large areas of Southern Mindanao, particularly Compostela Valley.

“Government is going to come in and intervene. We will take the necessary measures to address the concerns of the industry,” Binay told The STAR after he met with the major players of the banana industry at the White House Restaurant here Thursday evening.

Binay said he already coordinated with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima for a possible moratorium on the loans of the small banana growers with the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Pablo actually added more problems to the banana industry that had earlier been beleaguered by China’s refusal to accept the country’s produce, as well as the attack of Fusarium Wilt or Panama disease.

“The storm destroyed as of latest count 14,000 hectares of banana farms in Compostela Valley. And multiply the 14,000 by four and that is the figure for the banana workers who are affected by the destruction and add to it the families who depend on these workers,” said Antonio Floirendo, Jr. chairman of the Anflocor Group of Companies.

Binay stressed he will also make the necessary coordination with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala on the rehabilitation of the damaged banana plantations in Compostela Valley.

Representatives of the major banana industry players who met with Binay also expressed their concern regarding the possibility of totally losing the industry, which is considered the country’s second highest earning generator next to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The executives of the banana firms told Binay of the need for government intervention in rehabilitating the affected areas.

Stephen Antig, executive director of Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), said that the figures that their members have reported as of Thursday morning already reached 14,000 hectares, with some members still assessing the destruction brought about by the storm.

PBGEA is the umbrella group of Cavendish exporting banana companies.

Antig said the industry is asking President Aquino for whatever help he can give to the already ailing industry further devastated by storm Pablo.

“If we translate this to value, it’s about P5.7-billion worth of harvest for the yearend. It’s a pretty expensive opportunity lost for the industry,” Antig said. “But if we include the infrastructure that would shoot up to P8 billion.”

To fully rehabilitate the hectares upon hectares of banana plantations would take months, plus another nine months before another harvest season can be expected.

“The average cost of rehabilitation for one hectare is P500,000.00 and it will cost us P5 billion to rehabilitate our plantations in the area,” Antig said.

Aside from the damage caused by Pablo,’Antig said that he fears the floods might actually spread the Panama disease and make a lot of areas not suitable for replanting.

The banana industry has been struggling the whole year with the sudden restrictions imposed by China earlier this year, the foreign exchange embargo on Iran, and the attack of Panama disease in several plantations.

“We need the help of the government now like never before. We need to help the communities that depend on the plantations recover just as fast,” Antig said, adding that there is an estimated 150,000 people who are depending on the banana industry in Compostela Valley alone. – With Mayen Jaymalin