Snippets

The agreement is a victory for the banana industry.  The understanding between parties declares that the governor has recognized the importance of Tadeco and the workers working peacefully.  The resolution provides a glimpse that Gob Jubahib is now being briefed and educated about the real effects of Fusarium Wilt. He is now fully supportive of the moves of Tadeco to safeguard the plantation from Panama Disease through the biosecurity facilities. He is now eager to fully implement biosecurity protocols, vehicles passing thru tire dips and people stepping on foot baths.  The meeting of minds proves that negotiations, for the benefit of the majority, at times, provide preferable solutions to conflicts. Hopefully and prayerfully, Gob Jubahib will now be true to his words after all the hullabaloo.  However, Gob Jubahib's pronouncement that the roads are now open and no gatepasses are required anymore may be face-saving wo...

Gov. Jubahib, in his speech during the event on his first 100 days in office, signaled a very dangerous mind. Explaining and insinuating that because the banana plants of Tadeco are healthy, these don't need the bio-security measures against fusarium wilt such as tire/ wheel baths and foot baths. Where the hell did he get an idea such as that! He had not thought about why the bananas in Tadeco are healthy and why the banana plants in the nearby Sto Tomas and Kapalong plantations are dying on Fusarium Wilt. He wants to open roads which are already accessible by the public. He wants to get rid of these structures mandated by the Bureau of Plant Industry and with a provincial resolution that backed it. He asked about what to choose, banana or people? Let's discuss. People in Tanglaw, Bobongon and Balagunan can pass thru the farm roads provided that vehicles and people take the precautionary defense of passing through tire baths and foot baths with their livelihood intact (thes...

The Philippines is the second largest exporter of Cavendish bananas, next only to Ecuador. The dreaded Fusarium Wilt disease caused by a fungus, Fusarium oxysporum cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4) is wrecking havoc and threatening the existence of the banana industry, not just in the Philippines but all over the world. Banana exporting countries as well as banana eating countries are scrambling to solve the problem. Our government in 2012 thru the Bureau of Plant Protection of the Department of Agriculture had declared war to minimize and slow down the spread of the fungus that is exploding like wildfire. The administrative order urges the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental and other provinces to put up quarantine measures which includes tire/wheel and foot baths in every entry and exit points of a banana farm. TADECO has been in the forefront in the production of Cavendish bananas for export as well as in the combat of the Fusarium Wilt disease. Protectin...