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. Protecting its farms which is a source of livelihood of more than 12,000 workers, it invests a lot in research and helps spread information about the effects of the disease to the surrounding barangays and on how to minimize its effect. Farm roads had been installed with tire and wheel vats as well as foot baths to minimize the entry of the disease. People passing thru the farm roads are asked to step on the foot baths and vehicles are made to pass thru tire vats. Workers and most people understand this biosecurity protocol as it is the mandate of the DA-BPI to protect the industry that also gives taxes to the government. The national government, thru the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Plant Industry, is protecting the banana industry to maintain the flow of revenues to the government coffers, to continuously provide jobs for thousands of Filipinos and thus maintain the peace and order in the area.
RECENTLY, this mandate of the national government, these protection of the source of livelihood for so many workers had been put into danger. DAVAO DEL NORTE GOVERNOR EDWIN I. JUBAHIB, in the guise of clearing roads (claimed as public by the governor but are contested ones since there is no document showing that these are donated or transferred to the province) using the Memorandum Circular 2019-121, wants to dismantle these "obstructions". Tire/Wheel and foot baths protecting the banana farms and as mandated by law are now labelled "obstructions" by the governor of Davao del Norte himself!
The video shows his group in entering a farm road with tire/wheel and foot baths. Guards are there to ensure that bio-security protocols are implemented. Seen are Jubahib and his men in motorcycles and vehicles refusing to alight and step on the foot bath provided at the side of the tire bath. He even scolded the guards and took pictures of them.
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. Protecting its farms which is a source of livelihood of more than 12,000 workers, it invests a lot in research and helps spread information about the effects of the disease to the surrounding barangays and on how to minimize its effect. Farm roads had been installed with tire and wheel vats as well as foot baths to minimize the entry of the disease. People passing thru the farm roads are asked to step on the foot baths and vehicles are made to pass thru tire vats. Workers and most people understand this biosecurity protocol as it is the mandate of the DA-BPI to protect the industry that also gives taxes to the government. The national government, thru the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Plant Industry, is protecting the banana industry to maintain the flow of revenues to the government coffers, to continuously provide jobs for thousands of Filipinos and thus maintain the peace and order in the area.
RECENTLY, this mandate of the national government, these protection of the source of livelihood for so many workers had been put into danger. DAVAO DEL NORTE GOVERNOR EDWIN I. JUBAHIB, in the guise of clearing roads (claimed as public by the governor but are contested ones since there is no document showing that these are donated or transferred to the province) using the Memorandum Circular 2019-121, wants to dismantle these "obstructions". Tire/Wheel and foot baths protecting the banana farms and as mandated by law are now labelled "obstructions" by the governor of Davao del Norte himself!
The video shows his group in entering a farm road with tire/wheel and foot baths. Guards are there to ensure that bio-security protocols are implemented. Seen are Jubahib and his men in motorcycles and vehicles refusing to alight and step on the foot bath provided at the side of the tire bath. He even scolded the guards and took pictures of them.
A governor is supposed to be the executive of the province who protects his constituents, the farms of the people and the the businesses in his AOR. He is supposed to be the model of respect, consideration and compliant to bio-security measures such as the tire/wheel and foot baths as the head of a province. He is supposed to implement measures to minimize the risk posed by the dreaded disease.
But his actions are the complete opposite of what he had taken oath to. He is now colluding with Fusarium oxysporum cubense. He is now the agent of the destruction of the banana industry!
He and his cohorts vowed to come back to Tadeco-Bucor farm roads to dismantle these defenses on October 7, 2019. He would be bringing heavy equipment and the media to show his rage against the national order to protect the banana industry. He would be with people who believe in his cause. He would like to defy the DA-BPI order of installing tire/wheel and foot baths. His action on monday is not against Tadeco alone, it is a signal that he is against the banana industry, it is a manifestation that he can go against a national order, it is an insinuation that he can fool people to follow him blindly all because he is the governor.
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