Davao exports reach $1B

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

DAVAO Region posted a remarkable growth in exports in the first three quarters of 2011 with a total of $1 billion, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Davao Region announced Tuesday.

DTI Davao del Sur provincial director Engr. Edwin Banquerigo said the current figure already matched the $1 billion total exports recorded in 2010. In 2009, Davao Region's export performance was pegged at $902.7 million.

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"We have a good performance this year compared to that of 2010 as we still have three months to go," Bangquerigo told Sun.Star Davao.

Banquerigo announced this as he discussed the proposed Davao Region Export Action Plan for 2011-2013 during the regional seminar on the implementation of the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2011-2013 at the Grand Men Seng Hotel.

Banquerigo said the information was based on the Bureau of Customs-Port of Davao record from January to September.

Banana remained the top export earner at $584 million, followed by rubber ($89.4 million), desiccated coconut ($71 million) and pineapple ($57.5 million).

Coconut oil also performed well as it posted $91.5 million in export earnings for the first nine months of 2011. In 2010, coconut oil made only $22.8 million.

Meanwhile, Banquerigo, who outlined the Davao Region plans and programs during the forum in lieu of DTI regional director Marizon S. Loreto, said they are eyeing mango, coco xyclose and microwavable banana as among the top potential export winners next year.

For the coco xylose alone, Bangquerigo said the region is eyeing to export 12,000 metric tons by next year.

The Davao Region action plan was presented after Export Development Council deputy executive director Emmarita Z. Mijares discussed the PEDP during the forum attended by representatives of the different government agencies and exporters.

Loreto said the seminar was jointly conducted by DTI and the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion to enlighten exporters of the plans and policies of government in marketing their products abroad.