MANILA, Dec. 28 — A lawmaker has proposed the creation of a research and development facility that would enable the banana industry to cope with global standards for productivity and food safety without sacrificing people’s health and the environment.
Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza (Party-list, TUCP) filed House Bill No. 5221 that seeks to maximize the great potential of the export banana industry in providing huge opportunities for some 30,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries, particularly in Mindanao.
In filing the bill, Mendoza said the industry’s global competitiveness must be strengthened with the assistance of the government in the area of research and development.
“This is what the small growers need most. Funds must be allotted for the research and development programs of the industry. A National Research, Development and Extension Center for Banana (NRDECB) could be created to assist the industry for more advanced and scientific farm operations in such areas such as land preparation, plant breeding, planting, crop-protection, harvesting and processing,” Mendoza said.
He said a banana research institute is necessary in addressing banana pests and diseases that threaten the viability of Philippine bananas and could cripple both the small growers and corporate farms.
“We feel an urgent need for research and development facilities, scientific and environment-friendly interventions,” Mendoza stressed.
According to Mendoza, the most promising agriculture-based industry that has a great potential to boost rural development, where poverty rate is high, is the export banana industry.
Mendoza said since its inception 44 years ago, and up until now, the Philippine export banana industry continues to provide livelihood to 320,000 workers and their families. The industry pays an average of PhP30 billion per year for workers’ salaries and wages excluding benefits.
He added that because of the banana industry, the peace and order situation in Mindanao has improved and better governance became possible where people’s livelihood is sustainable.
Mendoza said presently, the export banana industry is the country’s second biggest dollar-earning agricultural enterprise next to the coconut industry, which uses 4.5 million hectares. The industry’s average foreign exchange earnings annually is US$ 720 million.
“Needless to say, the industry has become a potent instrument of development and empowerment for almost two million residents of Mindanao who depend on it. They were able to improve the quality of their lives with the help of the industry. Truly, the export banana industry is a great blessing to many people in Mindanao,” Mendoza said.
Under the measure, the Center shall be based in the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) in Davao City. It is tasked to undertake basic and strategic research for developing technologies to enhance the productivity and utilization of banana and educate and train all stakeholders of the banana industry.
The Center is also mandated to serve as national repository of germplasm and information related to banana and plantain and also disseminate the knowledge for production and productivity, provide leadership and coordinate the network research for generating location of specific varieties, production and postharvest technologies and for solving specific constraints in banana production and collaborate with relevant national and international agencies in achieving these objectives.
Further, the Center is specifically tasked to develop improved cultivars through traditional and biotechnological methods, productive, high yielding, good quality varieties of banana and develop efficient, economic and productive banana production technologies.
The bill provides that the Center shall be headed by an Executive Director who should be responsible for the planning, implementation and supervision of the Center’s program of activities. An Advisory Board is directed to review annually the plans and programs of the Center.
The amount of PhP300,000,000 is appropriated from the funds of the National Treasury necessary to maintain the operations of the Center. - (PNA)SCS/HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES-PR/PJN
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