Banana exporters await US' OK on exports of PHL Cavendish

The Philippines is still waiting for the US' decision on whether to allow the entry of Philippine Cavendish bananas into the US mainland, the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry said Monday. “The ball is still with the US. Our exporters, led by Dole, [are] ready to take action if and when they decide it is alright to allow exports,” said bureau director Clarito Barron. He added that he will take up the issue with Philippine Agricultural Attaché to Washington Josyline Javelosa. The US government had said that it would make a decision after the its Presidential election, which was held in November last year. It is also reviewing the final work plan for the export of Philippine bananas to US territories such as Guam and the Marianas Islands. The Philippines exports Cavendish bananas to China, Russia, South Korea, New Zealand, Japan and the Middle East. China's imposing stricter phytosanitary requirements on Philippine exports such as bananas prompted the local banana industry to push for the entry of Philippine bananas to the US mainland. Banana is the Philippines' second largest cash crop export after coconut. Earlier, the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association called for P7 billion in aid for the banana plantations in Mindanao devastated by Typhoon Pablo in December. — BM, GMA News