SENATOR CYNTHIA A. Villar, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, is now looking at the proposal to set up a banana industry council. In a speech delivered by her chief-of-staff, Michael G. Regino, during the banana conference here last week, Ms. Villar gave assurance that she is now studying the various bills previously submitted. Among those pushing for a council creation are the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Inc. (PBGEA), the group of the major corporations, and the Davao chapter of the Philippine Exporters Confederation (PhilExport), which counts among its members the small banana exporters. Both PBGEA and PhilExport have stressed that the creation of the council would benefit smallholders as the big local companies and multinationals have the financial capacity and manpower to address challenges such as infestations. Ireneo D. Dalayon of the Mindanao Banana Growers and Exporters Association, which groups small farmers and exporters, said on the sidelines of the forum that with the council, the 60-year old industry “will be able to come up with programs necessary for us to grow our production as we have been threatened by (international) competition.” — Carmelito Q. Francisco

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