Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Friday vowed stronger government support for the country’s banana sector, unveiling a package of interventions to fight the spread of Panama disease and restore competitiveness in global markets.
Speaking at the 32nd Joint General Assembly of the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) and the Banana Export Industry Foundation (BEIF), Secretary Tiu Laurel called for closer
collaboration between the government and the private sector to revive the industry, which has been battered by both biological and market challenges.
He cited the spread of Fusarium wilt tropical race 4—also known as Panama disease—as the industry’s most urgent threat. The disease has already affected around 15,500 hectares in the Davao Region, endangering the Cavendish variety that serves as the backbone of Philippine banana exports.
“The Department of Agriculture is firmly committed to supporting our banana farmers and exporters in addressing this challenge,” Tiu Laurel said.
Under the High Value Crops Development Program for 2025, the DA plans to distribute 106,000 banana planting materials for farm expansion and rejuvenation, along with 120,000 units of organic fertilizer to improve soil health.
The DA will also deploy over 215,000 biological control agents such as Trichoderma to protect plant health and reduce postharvest losses.
Beyond the farm, he pointed to growing challenges in international trade. He noted that Vietnam has overtaken the Philippines as China’s top banana supplier, while Philippine exports to Japan continue to face higher tariffs than those from Vietnam, Mexico, and Peru.
“Unless these inequities are addressed, our market share will remain at risk,” Tiu Laurel warned, urging continued advocacy for fairer trade terms in the upcoming review of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
He also emphasized the need for research on disease tolerance, breeding strategies, and new technologies such as gene editing to secure the industry’s long-term viability.
The DA urged the newly-inducted PBGEA and BEIF leaders to carry forward the dual mission of protecting banana plantations from Fusarium wilt and strengthening local banana competitiveness abroad. “With unity, science, and sound trade policy, the Philippine banana industry will not only recover but thrive,” he said.
