Mla. Times, June 18, 2009
WHEREAS, one of the goals
of the 2004-2010 Medium-Term Philippine development Plan is to develop
new land for agribusiness to create more job opportunities and to
strengthen global
competitiveness;
WHEREAS, the
Philippine export banana industry has gained global market strength
over the years producing one of the country’s major export products and
source of jobs;
WHEREAS, LOI 58
issued on 22 February 1973, as amended by LOI 790 issued on 6 January
1979, limits the hectarage that could be planted to export banana at
26,250 hectares;
WHEREAS, the
existing hectarage planted to export banana increased over the years
and has exceeded the limit allowed under said LOI due to increasing
global market demand;
WHEREAS,
improving the country’s global market position in the export banana
industry necessitates the repeal of LOI 58 as
amended.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of
the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order and
direct:
SECTION 1. Letter of
Instruction No. 58 (series of 1973), as amended, is hereby
repealed.
SECTION 2. The Banana
Industry Export Committee is hereby dissolved. Instead, the Department
of Agriculture (DA) shall oversee the export banana industry, as with
other crops, subject to existing land use policies and plans of the
national and local governments and with due consideration to global
market demand and conditions as well as social and environmental
impacts of expanding banana plantation areas, among
others.
SECTION 3. All
presidential issuances, administrative rules and regulations, or parts
thereof inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.
SECTION 4.
This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon publication in
a national newspaper of general
circulation.
Done in the City of
Manila this 8
th day of June, in the year of Our
Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.
(Sgd.) GLORIA M.
ARROYO
By the
President:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO R.
ERMITAExecutive
Secretary