Manila, Aug. 13 -- Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday called on government agencies to prioritize banana production and research, warning that the Philippines risks losing significant market share in key export destinations like Japan and China.

In a statement, Marcos said that the banana industry is battling a multi-faceted crisis that marketing alone cannot solve, pointing to high production costs, the persistent threat of Panama disease, and unfavorable trade agreements as the main factors eroding competitiveness.

"Marketing efforts, while appreciated, cannot solve the fundamental issues we are facing," Marcos said. "Our high production costs create a domino effect. We need a strategy built on 'production, production, production'-- not...