(NAR) VOL. 23 NO. 1, JANUARY - MARCH 2012
Section 1. The Panama disease of Banana “Fusarium Wilt” is hereby declared an injurious and dangerous disease of banana and abaca (Musa spp.)
Section 2. For the purpose of this Administrative Order, the Provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Davao City, Compostella Valley, Bukidnon, North and South Cotabato and such other areas where the disease is found to exist are hereby declared infected with Fusarium wilt and placed under quarantine in accordance with section 8 of PD 1433 as implemented by section 1, Rule VI of BPI Quarantine Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 1981.
Section 3. The movement/transfer/carrying of the following materials from the infected provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Davao City, Compostella Valley, Bukidnon, North and South Cotabato as well as from other provinces which may hereafter be declared infected with Fusarium wilt, to non-infected provinces or sub-provinces within in Mindanao as well as to Visayas and Luzon shall be prohibited:
- plants and/or its parts thereof of Musa spp of all varieties of banana (Bungulan, Lakatan, Latundan, Saba, Cavendish, etc.);
- plants and/or its parts thereof of Musa spp of all varieties of abaca;
- soil;
- banana and abaca plant parts (except tissue culture-derived plants) used as packing materials for agricultural products;
exceptions from this prohibition are:
- tissue-cultured banana and abaca plants and/or their parts thereof;
- limited quantities of banana and abaca plants and/or their parts thereof intended for experimental purposes only, provided a prior permit for such purpose is first secured from the director of the Bureau of Plant Industry or his/her authorized representative.
Section 4. The following quarantine and border control measures shall be implemented:
- Quarantine checkpoints shall be established in municipalities and between provinces where the disease has been identified and verified as existing;
- Inspection of all vehicles, farm equipment, and people passing through the quarantine checkpoints, and disinfection of the same using appropriate disinfectants;
- Confiscation of materials capable of spreading the disease;
- Installation and maintenance of tire/wheel and foot baths at every port/wharf, airport, and entry and exit points in banana and abaca farms.
Section 5. In order to carry out effective plant quarantine measures, the director of the BPI, in accordance with Section 16 of PD 1433, may request the national, provincial, municipal, and barangay officials and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as private stakeholders to assist the Bureau of Plant Industry-Plant Quarantine Service (BPI-PQS) in the implementation/enforcement of the prohibitions and measures stipulated in Section 3 and 4 of this Order to prevent the further spread of the disease.
Section 6. Any person who violates the provisions of this Order or forges, counterfeits, alters, defaces and destroys any document issued by virtue hereof shall be prosecuted pursuant to the penalties imposed under Section 23 of PD 1433 consisting, inter alia, of a fine of not more than PhP20,000.00 or imprisonment from prison correctional to prison mayor, or both at the discretion of the Court.
Section 7. This Order supersedes and revokes prior orders or other issuances contrary to or inconsistent herewith and shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication as required by law.