Philippine Ambassador Highlights Importance of Banana Industry in International Symposium
Ambassador Garcia-Albano (3rd from left) with Economic Officer Alvin Malasig, Agriculture Attaché Aleli Maghirang, Dr. Nagamine Tsukasa (2nd from right), SATREPS research supervisor; and Prof. Watanabe Kyoko, SATREPS-BaCaDM Chief Advisor.
TOKYO 14 March 2026 – Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano underscored the vital role of the Philippine banana industry in supporting Japan’s food supply and food affordability during the SATREPS-BaCaDM International Symposium held on 4 March 2026 at Tamagawa University in Machida, Tokyo.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano delivers her remarks during the international symposium.
The symposium, held under the framework of the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS), brought together researchers and industry stakeholders from Japan and the Philippines to discuss advances in plant disease management and agricultural cooperation. The Banana and Cacao Disease Management (BaCaDM) project focuses on the development of novel disease management systems for banana and cacao, with collaborative research conducted by Tamagawa University and Central Luzon State University (CLSU).
In her remarks, Ambassador Garcia-Albano highlighted the Philippines’ longstanding role as a major supplier of agricultural products to Japan. She noted that “banana and cacao are not merely commodities. They are pillars of livelihood, particularly in Mindanao, where hundreds of thousands of families depend on these industries. The Philippines remains a major supplier of agricultural products to Japan, contributing to the country’s food security and to the diversity and affordability of food choices available to Japanese consumers.”
The Ambassador also underscored the critical role of the banana industry in the Philippines’ economic security, noting that efforts to reduce trade barriers could help ease cost pressures faced by Japanese consumers, particularly during times of global uncertainty, while sustaining livelihoods in Mindanao. In support of the Ambassador’s remarks, Agriculture Attaché Maria Alilia Maghirang provided an overview of the agro-industrial sector in Mindanao.
The symposium featured discussions on international plant protection regulations, field realities in developing countries, and new frontiers in banana and cacao disease research. Speakers included representatives from the Philippine Bureau of Plant Industry, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Japan Science and Technology Agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization, CLSU, and several Japanese universities.
The Embassy continues to engage both Filipino and Japanese stakeholders to deepen cooperation in agricultural science and innovation, emphasizing that such partnerships contribute to more resilient food systems and sustainable economic growth.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano with the symposium organizers and participants.
