Our bananas — it’s no longer a sagging industry

There is good news for our banana growers. At long last, the United States is willing to open its doors to Philippine banana, though only one variety has gotten the nod.  This is the Highland Cavendish variety that is grown only in the highlands of Davao and Bukidnon.

As opposed to Lowland Cavendish which some of our plantations grow, the highland variety is reportedly much sweeter, a rather special variety indeed if the Americans are now agreeing to import them from us. I understand that the plant quarantine protocol imposed on our bananas is rather stringent. Assuring that these bananas get into US free from pests and diseases is a problem that the exporters should work on, and big grower DOLE is at the forefront of working out the documentation, etc.

Through the government’s initiatives, we were able to penetrate the American market.  However, locally it was only DOLE who responded to that initiative, and they have taken up the task of ensuring proper documentation and adherence to the strict banana protocol of the US.

The Highland Cavendish must be very special indeed.  If you think about it, South America is much nearer to the United States, as director Clarito Barron of the Bureau of Plant Industry pointed out in an exclusive interview with Business & Leisure, and this is a banana-growing country like us.  Yet, the Philippines is all set to bag this much-needed contract by the end of this year, if all goes well. Once the United States approves the ruling (which is now still under review), the commercial exportation of Highland Cavendish bananas will commence. The initial volume of exportation is small at 3,000 metric tons, but we have to start somewhere. The American acceptance of this type of our bananas into their soil enhances the image of Philippine bananas to the rest of the world.

There are plans likewise to export to US trust territories like Guam, the Marianas Islands and even Hawaii. The local banana industry remains big in the Philippines.  Currently worth P34 billion, it employs 500,000 workers, and Director Barron claims this industry indirectly benefits five million Filipinos.

Whatever happened to our banana exports to China?  Actually, I think there was a lot of hype to that.  In 2011, our total banana exports to China were 513,000 metric tons.  This year, there was so much talk of a Chinese boycott of our bananas, but as of end of October, our banana exports  to this country stood at 429,000 MT, and we still have two months to go for the year.

In the whole world, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry, there has been a tremendous increase in banana exports.  Last year, we exported 1.8 million MT.  Now, as of end of October, our exports already stood at 3.4 million MT to countries like Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and new markets like Mongolia, Russia, Belorussia and the Middle East.

Among the most common banana varieties that we ship out are the Senorita variety which is much desired by Japan, and the Bongonan, Saba, Latundan and Lacatan.

Here are some consumer concerns

Sometime back, I wrote about this big laundry/dry cleaners which I have been patronizing for several years now. To cut to the chase, one of my tailored white shirts that was sent to them for laundry got lost somewhere, and when I filed for a claim, they pointed out to me the fine print in their service contract: for lost or damaged garments, their liability is limited to 100 percent of their cost of service, or P1,250 for a slightly-used tailored shirt that cost me at least seven times that. Of course I declined.

After several months, they sent me a check for P2,000 (a little bit more) as damages for the lost item but, get this, they want me to sign a waiver that I will not write a word about the issue again nor similar issues in the future.  What if another reader has his own issue with drycleaners and wants a fair space in this column? I sent back the check promptly and requested to have that particular clause taken out, which they refused saying that it’s a “standard clause” in their waiver. I was just wondering, does this mean that all their claimants are consumer rights-conscious journalists to have such a clause “standard” in their waivers?

 We have no intentions whatsoever to besmirch the reputation of Metropole, being one of the better-known laundry facilities hereabouts. Each business establishment has its own rules and ways to conduct their business and we do not question this. Our objective here is to inform the public of such fine print conditions that they may not be aware of.

As for me, I’ll just have to find my way again to Ascot Chang for another well-tailored shirt to replace the one that Metropole Laundry and Dry Cleaners may have inadvertently lost. And charge it to experience.  

Another consumer issue

Many stores resort to gimmicks using discount coupons which they give away during promos.  White Hat, which sells frozen yogurt, launched their promo in conjunction with a theater mall where discount stubs of P20 each were given to patrons. A reader wrote that when he and his family tried to use the discount cards one Sunday afternoon at the SM Megamall, the cashier informed them that they had to declare where they got the discount cards from. According to the reader they explained that each store had controlling numbers, so this information had to be volunteered before they could honor the discount cards. But when it was pointed out the fine print on the discount coupon clearly stated that the coupons should be honored in any and all White Hat stores, they reportedly changed their tack. After a few phone calls, the reader added that they still refused to honor the coupons because the theater mall’s membership card could not be presented, another alleged requirement.

Our reader came to wonder. Where did that come from?  Where did it say in the discount coupon that use of the coupons was hinged on some membership affiliation? There was no reference at all to any membership, or for that matter, any qualifying condition that must be met for the use of those discount cards.

Many of us do not bother with P20-discount cards, but young people on a strict budget do. It does not do well for stores to prey on them in the guise of promoting their stores.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

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