1. PINEAPPLE INDUSTRY

2. INDUSTRY PROFILE:
The Philippines is one of the top pineapple-exporting countries in the world
The major producing regions are in the Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region
Areas planted to pineapple increased by 12% in 2008 and produced 1,046,000 MT with total export revenues of US$ Million in 2008
The industry provides levelihood to 420,000 farmers

3. ISSUES AND CONCERNS: RECOMMENDATIONS: High cost of production due to:
High cost of farm inputs especially fertilizers High cost of labor
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Increase government subsidy; e.g import tax reduction
Encourage the growth or establishment of local manufacturing fertilizer industry (local production)
Improve standards for service providers/ encourage more people to be compliant to standards

4. Intensified trainings for service providers
ISSUE AND CONCERN:
Poaching of managerial and technical manpower
RECOMMENDATION:
Intensified trainings for service providers

5. ISSUES AND CONCERNS:
Financing in agriculture in order to avoid higher interest rate and unsuitable loan terms
Taxes
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Revive Anti-Usury Law
Reduce loan interest rates

6. ISSUE AND CONCERN: RECOMMENDATIONS:
Road maintenance or farm to market roads
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Government support for regular road maintenance
Create a study group that will look into the technical and financial capability of LGUs
Come up with an integrated road maintenance task force
Study the creation of road maintenance network

7. ISSUE AND CONCERN: RECOMMENDATIONS:
Unstable peace and order situation (e.g threat of sabotaging equipment and infrastructure of some firms
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Install military detachments in strategic areas for the effective promotion of tourism/commerce
support programs both government and private to augment income of workers

8. ISSUE AND CONCERN: RECOMMENDATIONS: Pilferage/Theft
Intensify community relations through the establishment of community projects to enhance harmonious realationship
Ensure the concerned institutions to operate effectively
Increase social responsibility/cooperation
Adopt strict security measures

9. ISSUE AND CONCERN: RECOMMENDATION: Pole Vaulting
Enforcement of contracts

10. ISSUE AND CONCERN: RECOMMENDATIONS:
Unavailability of workers due to seasonality of jobs
RECOMMENDATIONS:
To come up with a continuous Training Program
Tapped available training shemes
Identification of skills requirement

11. ISSUE AND CONCERN: RECOMMENDATION:
Lack of industry/company training programs for its workers
RECOMMENDATION:
Implementation of relevant sustainable program

12. Thank You!