Aquino orders authorities to diversify banana market

President Benigno Aquino III said Monday he has ordered authorities to diversify the export market for Philippine bananas so as not to be tied to conditions set by any particular country.                         

 

“Importante i-diversify ‘din natin ‘yung pinag-e-exportan natin para naman hindi tayo nakatali sa desisyon ng iisang bansa… na-a-apektuhan nang husto ang industriya,” Aquino said amid reports that Chinese authorities are now imposing stringent measures against Philippine bananas.

 

“… ‘Yung mga merkado na pinagluluwalan natin nitong produkto nating ito ay halos ninety to one hundred percent na pala na atin ‘yung merkado,” the President noted.

 

“So ‘yung mga established markets natin ay halos punung-puno rin ng saging natin so ang kailangan ngayon at ang instructions ko sa kanila from last year ay dagdagan ‘yung mga bansang pinapadalhan natin para hindi naman tayo natatali sa isang bansa lang… ‘Pag may problema ay kaagad naapektuhan nang malaki ang ating industriya ng saging,” Aquino said.

 

The Department of Agriculture is ready to assist exporters in meeting the requirements set by Chinese authorities. 

 

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala told reporters in an interview a Philippine team will go to China to bring credentials and be present when Chinese authorities inspect the goods.

 

“At the same time, kasama po ‘yung imbitasyon naman natin sa kanila para pumunta ang delegasyon dito at i-check po nila ‘yung protocol natin. Ang importante po dito ma-i-prove natin ‘yung ating mga produktong iniluluwas hindi lang po sa China, kundi sa ibang bansa man, na ito po ay wala pong peste,” Alcala added said. —VS, GMA News