Implement zero tariff on Philippine bananas in Japan to save the banana industry of the country, this is the proposal of Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda to President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.
In a report by RH Milky Rigonan, Salceda said that the banana industry is now on a life or death situation.
Some of the factors that jeopardized losses in the banana industry are investors who left, climate change, pests that destroy the bananas and global competition, he added.
He explained that if the government does not give a solution for the crisis then the Philippines’ 2nd biggest agricultural export will slowly die.
Thus recommending to President Bongbong Marcos, who currently sits as the Department of Agriculture Secretary, to implement zero tariffs on Philippine Bananas in our main market of the industry which is Japan.
Japan is now implementing zero tariffs for Mexico, Peru, Cambodia and Laos, he mentioned.
Salceda stated that Japan will import the supply of bananas in Cambodia and Laos, if the crisis is not solved.
Before the pandemic, the amount for exporting bananas was around $2 billion, however last year it only reached $1 billion, he noted.
Salceda is also the vice chairman of the house committee on agricultural food.
