MANILA — Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. pledged stronger government support for the country’s banana sector, unveiling interventions to fight Panama disease and boost 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), Tiu Laurel stressed the need for closer government-private sector collaboration to revive the industry, which has faced both biological and market challenges.

He identified the spread of Fusarium wilt tropical race 4, or Panama disease, as the sector’s most urgent threat. The disease has affected around 15,500 hectares in the Davao Region, endangering the Cavendish variety, 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. More than 215,000 biological control agents, such as Trichoderma, will also be deployed to protect plant health and reduce postharvest losses.

Tiu Laurel also highlighted challenges in international trade, noting that Vietnam has overtaken the Philippines as China’s top banana supplier and that Philippine exports to Japan face higher tariffs than competitors. “Unless these inequities are addressed, our market share will remain at risk,” he said, urging advocacy for fairer trade terms under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

He emphasized the importance of research on disease tolerance, breeding strategies, and new technologies such as gene editing to ensure the industry’s long-term viability.

“With unity, science, and sound trade policy, the Philippine banana industry will not only recover but thrive,” Tiu Laurel said, urging PBGEA and BEIF leaders to continue efforts to protect plantations and strengthen global competitiveness.