People’s Republic of China allows entry of
Philippine bananas
Quarantine officials of the People’s Republic of
China (PROC) have allowed Philippine bananas to enter their market after
imposing stricter measures on the product coming from the Philippines.
“I can tell you that we have a bit of good news.
We have progressed in resolving the phytosanitary issue. We received word today
that 30 to 40 containers have been allowed to pass in China. So that’s a little
bit of good news for us,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
announced in a press conference in Malacanang on Tuesday.
Valte said that it was agreed that the
Department of Agriculture will double check all banana exports before leaving
the country and its counterparts in the PROC will join them once the exports
arrived there.
“It will be subjected to a joint inspection to
resolve quickly any phytosanitary issues,” Valte said.
To assist the local banana producers affected by
the trade row with PROC, Valte said the President already ordered a study so
that some measures could be extended to them.
Although the import restrictions imposed by PROC
started to ease, the government is still looking for other markets for
Philippine bananas, she said.
The secretary of the Department of Agriculture
organized a team from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to go to China to
check on the stranded banana shipments in response to PROC’s claim that
Philippine bananas shipped to have pests. Likewise, the Chinese quarantine
officials have been invited to inspect plantations and ports in the country.
The Philippines is one of the world’s top banana
exporters with much of the fruits being grown in Mindanao. Among its major
markets include Japan, South Korea, PROC and New Zealand. In 2010, the total
export earnings for fresh Cavendish banana amounted to $720 million.
The PROC is the country’s second biggest export
market for bananas next to Japan. Records show that as of February 2012, the
Philippine banana exports to China accounted for 19 percent of the total export
during the first two months of this year. (PCOO)
Malacanang cites significant decrease of
extrajudicial killings in the country
Malacanang cited the significant decrease in the
cases of extrajudicial killings in the country as it attributed this
development to the continuous and coordinated efforts of various government
agencies under the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC), tasked to work
on cases of abuse.
In a regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Tuesday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the
government has been seriously institutionalizing human rights protection to
ensure the adherence to this goal.
“From 2008 to 2011, there were 28---27 cases
involving extrajudicial killings that were received by the PNP Task Force USIG.
Experts from the European Union have also noted the decrease in the cases
specifically at the start of the administration of President Aquino,” Valte
said.
“It can be attributed to the fact that the
agencies have continued to work together. Mas pinaigting po ‘yung kooperasyon
nila to address ‘yang mga ganitong issues. For example, ‘yung AFP po natin, to
institutionalize human rights protection, came up with the first ever AFP human
rights handbook. That it has already been disseminated and is being taught even
at training level. The AFP also continues to work with other stakeholders in
human rights advocacy groups. Nagpatuloy pa ‘yung kanilang consultation, kung
ano yang mga nagiging problema at ano ho ‘yang mga possible solutions para
naman po mabigyan ng resolusyon ‘yang mga ganitong kaso,” she added.
Valte said that while there is a considerable
decrease in numbers, the Aquino administration will incessantly work harder to
totally eliminate cases of extrajudicial killings in the country.
Valte further noted that the PHRC remains
focused on its responsibilities and will be presenting its assessment on the
developments during the United Nation’s Universal Periodic Review.
The Presidential Human Rights Committee is
continuing its work in tandem with the Commission on Human Rights. And we intend
to present these developments when the Philippine delegation goes for the
Universal Periodic Review on May 29, 2012. That would be next week,” Valte
said.
The UPR is a periodic review conducted every
four years by the UN Human Rights Council which is composed of the UN member
countries. (PCOO)
