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Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Ledesma: The inutility of quarantine bureau
By Jun Ledesma
Sunbursts
"It is therefore a big letdown to see the Quarantine Bureau doing its best to destroy the image that the industry built and the market that it has developed."
WHILE President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is busy luring domestic and foreign capitalists to invest in the Philippines and guaranteeing protection from predatory operators, the Quarantine Bureau under the Department of Agriculture, is doing the exact opposite. In fact, the Quarantine Office in Davao is acting like the predator itself. A classic case is its issuance of phyto-sanitary certificates to just any Tom, Dick, and Harry without regard to its mandate to strictly monitor the strict adherence to the standards, rules and regulations imposed by the government specifically on matters involving exportation and importation of plants, fruits, and animals among others.
I learned that not a few banana shipments have been rejected in the export markets because these were found to be contaminated. These were later identified as coming from fly-by-night exporters who do not have plantations but are buying bananas from questionable sources. Members of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Inc. (PBGEA) are not happy with this development as the unhealthy practice impacts adversely on the industry. The Philippines is the major banana exporter in Southeast Asia. To my guesstimate 95% of the cavendish bananas are grown in Davao area but 100% of this prime export commodity are shipped out of Davao. Demand for Philippine bananas has been growing consistently. Because of this, the marketing partners of the Philippine growers and exporters have seen to it that the standard of quality is strictly adhered to.
In Osaka and neighboring cities I have personally seen how Sumitomo Fruit Corporation (SUMIFRU) packages and markets our bananas. They are placed in sealed cellophane complete with brands and colorful tags explaining how bananas are cultured and how carefully each hand is washed and handled for export packaging. It's a tedious process to keep the quality of our bananas in excellent condition. AMS Farms, which is the production principal of Sumifru, and Sumifru itself, have invested a huge sum of money to put up a cool chain to maintain the freshness of bananas. It is therefore a big letdown to see the Quarantine Bureau doing its best to destroy the image that the industry built and the market that it has developed.
I really do not have much confidence in Arthur Yap, the new Agriculture secretary. His delicate complexion shows he is a swivel chair executive and abhors traveling to the provinces. Ever since he sat down as DA secretary, he is seen only in provincial visits whenever President GMA does her rounds. I also doubt whether that plan to transfer the DA to Davao will ever materialize during his watch.
What I am saying is, how can Secretary Yap appreciate the problems of the banana growers and exporters if he does not go around and have the feel of what is going on in the field? Binababoy na ng Quarantine Office ang banana industry, hangggang ngayon wala pang ginagawa para sugpuin ang kalokuhan at pagsawalang-bahala ng kanyang mga tao sa kuwarantina. I am saying that in my two cents worth of Tagalog for the DA head to easily comprehend the problem besetting Davao's prime industry.
But there is more to what just meet the eye here. Those fly-by-night exporters buy from questionable sources and that includes big volume of bananas stolen from the farms, from rejects, and from farms which are not maintained and had been infected with sigatoka. The quarantine people know these. They know that there are independent growers who unilaterally withdrew from growers' contracts with corporate farms and started selling their produce to unregistered exporters.
They received a little bit more from these wheeler-dealers than they do with the established firms who are members of PBGEA. It was good at the start but later turned real bad because these shady operators have not been giving them support for the farm maintenance. The disease set in.
The fruits that passed quarantine were rejected in the export market as they prematurely ripened. When a thing like this happens, the entire industry suffers.
The government and the citizens suffer as well as the destruction of this vital export industry will mean decreased revenues and later results in unemployment. Very sad to say, the government is not doing anything about it. Secretary Yap continues to be oblivious of what's happening in the field, if he keeps to his swivel chair and air-conditioned room. For Davao bisaya stories.Click here.
(January 19, 2005 issue)
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