About PBGEA
1. What is PBGEA?
PBGEA stands for Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association. Formed in 1969, it aims to look after the collective needs and concerns of the players of the local banana industry so that it may remain competitive and keep its position as among the top exporters in the world.
2. Who are the members of PBGEA?
PBGEA members include multinational corporations, local companies, and small growers that produce banana. It currently has 31 members. (Click here for a list of PBGEA members)
3. Where do PBGEA members export their bananas?
While a portion of the export-quality banana produce of PBGEA members are sold in the Philippines, majority are distributed in other countries and the main export markets are: Japan Korea Hong Kong New Zealand Brunei China Singapore Indonesia Middle East Russia Canada
4. Who are the main competitors of PBGEA?
The other major banana exporters in the world are Ecuador, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Taiwan, China, and Somalia. About the banana industry
5. What kind of banana do PBGEA members export?
Cavendish bananas. There are several varieties, including highland, mid-land and lowland, depending on the farm location.
6. How big is the Philippine banana industry?
The banana industry is the 5th largest export industry in the country. In terms of local tax contribution, the banana industry remitted about PhP389 million worth of local taxes in 2008, including Business tax, Real property tax, Residence Certificates of Employees, Withholding tax of employees, Withholding tax at source, and Income tax.
7. How much is invested in the banana industry?
About PhP700,000 is needed for every hectare of a banana farm, which includes the costs for planting, infrastructure, offices, and distribution. With about 50,000 hectares of farmland used as banana plantation, PBGEA members have an estimated PhP35 billion investment in the industry.
8. How does the banana industry impact on the economy?
• Employment (minimum wages, job security)
• Development of related industries (transport, food, consumer goods, entertainment)
• Increased income opportunity (cash crop, i.e. corn, rice, firewood gathering vs. employment)
• Improved infrastructure support from government and private organizations
• Increased tax collection for local government.
9. What are the social impacts of the banana industry?
• Helps provide basic needs – availability of food, housing, clothing, employment
• Education – increased number of students
• Health care- availability of institutional care
• Migration back to family instead of having to look for livelihood elsewhere
• Equal opportunity for women and indigenous people
• Less occurrence of domestic and juvenile related crime and conflicts.
10. What are the cultural and political impact of the banana industry?
• Minimized contact with and influence of insurgency
• Improved peace and order situation.
• Effective local governance
• Integration of indigenous people (e.g. Bagobo, Manobo, Muslim) into mainstream society
• Better understanding of cultures
11. How does the banana industry contribute to the protection of the environment?
• Compliance with applicable environmental legislations such as the Philippine Clean Water Act, Philippine Clean Air Act, Toxic Chemicals and Hazardous Waste Act
• Use of fertilizers and pesticides registered with Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority
• Use of an Environmental Impact Assessment System
• Institutionalized management system (Multipartite Monitoring Team/MMT) involving government agencies, private groups and non-government organizations. • Reforestation is initiated within the slopes
12. What are the Community Development Projects of PBGEA?
While the individual member companies of PBGEA undertake Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects on their own, the PBGEA as a group has the following programs:
• Sagip Kalikasan Projects
- Tree planting activities involving PBGEA members and the communities where they operate.
• Sagip Kalusugan Projects
- Operation Tuli”
- Cataract & Cyst Extraction
- Harelip Operation
- Medical/Dental Outreach
• Sagip Kaalaman Projects
- Information and education campaign
- Safe Handling & Use of Pesticide
- Symposium on Banana & Pineapple Operations
- Dengue Prevention and Control
- Primary Eye Care. About aerial spraying
13. Do PBGEA members use fungicides? Why?
Yes. This is necessary to address the threat of the Black Sigatoka disease, which cannot be cured but can be controlled. If no fungicide is used, the disease can affect 60% of the banana plantations. All necessary precautions are taken by PBGEA members in the use and distribution of fungicide in the banana plantations.
14. What kind of fungicide is used?
The fungicide used is under Category IV of the World Health Organization Classification of Hazards. The solution component is 0.1 liter to 1.5 liter of active ingredient of fungicide mixed with 30 liters of water solution for every
one hectare. The distribution and use of this fungicide follows regulations set by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority. 15. Are there scientific studies supporting the fact that the fungicide used in aerial spraying is not harmful
to the environment and humans? Yes, there are several studies and reports supporting this. One of which is a report commissioned by the Davao City Government indicating that:
• “Aerial spraying is considered to be the most
effective and cost-efficient method of fungicide application.”
• “A review of the medical records in a tertiary hospital found no cases of untoward manifestations due to exposure to aerial spraying.”
• “There is no conclusive
finding that the cases complained of were due to aerial spraying…”
Other studies and reports come from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health’s Center for Health Development in the Davao Region, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Philippine Coconut Authority. (Click here for links to related websites.)
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