|
North Cotabato is at risk of losing a major export market for fresh bananas after the produce of two big companies were allegedly sabotaged, a top official warned Sunday. North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel F. Pi?ol said that Standard Philippines Fruit Corporation (Dole Stanfilco), a subsidiary of Dole Philippines Inc., and Sumitomo Fruits Corp. (Sumifru) complained that their products shipped to Japan were inserted with ceramics, broken glass, tooth picks and needles. What's your take on the Mindanao crisis? Discuss views with other readers. Pi?ol said the Provincial Government will create an investigating body to look into the complaints of the banana companies to avoid losing a major foreign market. "This is serious. If Sumitomo Fruits and Dole Stanfilco close their banana plantations in North Cotabato simply because of the stupidity of a few people, thousands of people will lose their jobs," he said. "Many families will return to eating only once a day," he added. Pi?ol said the banana firms believe the supposed saboteurs are locals. On Tuesday, the Provincial Board, which Pi?ol chairs, passed a resolution asking Governor Jesus N. Sacdalan to offer a reward of P50,000 to anyone who could provide information on the alleged saboteurs. Pi?ol noted that the banana is a major industry in the province, along with rubber and exotic fruits, and it would have a big impact if Japan ceases to source bananas due to the reported vandalizing of the product. Two years ago, Sumifru invested P6.5 billion on its banana plantations in Mindanao located in Davao City and South and North Cotabato. On the other hand, a company profile showed that Dole Stanfilco has over 11,400 hectares of bananas in several parts of Mindanao and employs approximately 22,000 people, directly and through third-parties. Banana firms have continued to operate in North Cotabato despite threats posed by the New People's Army (NPA) rebels. Late last month, communist guerrillas raided a militia detachment that helped guard a Stanfilco banana farm in Makilala, North Cotabato. Dencio Madrigal, spokesman and commanding officer of the NPA's Valentin Palamine command, said the renewed NPA offensive was a punitive action against the company, which he claimed has requested for the presence of the Army and Cafgu near the company premises. "Instead of heeding the revolutionary movement's warning and listening to the people's demands, the company became even more aggressive and fascist in its dealings with the farmers and workers," he said in a statement. In July, NPA rebels of the same unit torched four mobile packing trucks and two other vehicles of Stanfilco. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Flexible Strip Lights , China LED Automotive Light for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits LED FloodLights.
Related Articles -
Flexible Strip Lights, China LED Automotive Light,
|
