WHEREAS, banana production by other Asean countries i.e., Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia with 5.3% and below trailed behind the 6.1% share of the Philippines;

WHEREAS, during the reference period 1999-2003, the total volume of Philippine banana exports was increasing by an average of 8.8 percent annually;

WHEREAS, banana exports were mostly fresh and in processed forms using œsaba  banana as raw material, such as banana sauce, sweetened banana chips, banana strings and frozen banana fries;

WHEREAS, Philippine exports of banana chips/crackers from 1996-2000 posted an average growth rate of 4.86% or 18,380.91 MT valued at P20.8M;

WHEREAS, with its very high export potential, the banana chips industry should be provided with safety measures for its continued growth to prevent losing our market shares and advantage to competitors;

WHEREAS, œsaba  banana is an indigenous variety of banana in the Philippines and in support of the Resolution No. 17 of the National Committee on Food Crops (NAFC), the Bureau of Plant Industry-Plant Quarantine Service prohibits the exportation of œsaba  banana planting materials by non-issuance of Phytosanitary Certificate;

WHEREAS, should there be a need for exportation of the said commodity, the exporter should secure the œapproved commodity clearance  from the Department of Agriculture;

This Order supersedes and revokes orders inconsistent herewith and shall take effect immediately after publication.

Adopted: 28 March 2005

(SGD.) CLARITO M. BARRON, CESO IV
OIC-Director