SOURCE: Giselle P. Jordan, The Manila Times
The first commercial export of Philippine mangoes has been delivered to Italy, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday, with a shipment of over half a ton having landed at the Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome.
The mangoes in the shipment were sourced from farms in Pangasina and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) made sure that they had the required sanitary and phytosanitary certifications.
BPI Director Glenn Panganiban said that a lot of Philippine mango farms were already compliant with Italy’s plant health standards, which made the entry into the new market feasible and sustainable.
Philippine agriculture attache Josyline Javelosa attributed the success of the initiative to a network of Filipino small business owners in Rome as well as members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Italy.
With the help of her office, the group was said to have been able to navigate Italy’s strict import laws and bring one of the Philippines’ most renowned fruits to the Italian market.
“This export milestone reflects the Philippines’ commitment to green agriculture and inclusive development,” Javelosa said.
The DA said the shipment was also the result of discussions at conferences like the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, where the BPI and the National Plant Protection Office represented the country.
“It shows what can happen when public institutions, private initiative, and overseas Filipinos work together to elevate Philippine products to global standards,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
He also noted that the shipment should serve as a cue for the domestic mango industry.
“This development should encourage our mango farmers to aim for premium quality. It also opens the door for more investment, from both government and the private sector, to strengthen the competitiveness of Philippine mangoes globally,” he said.
Mangoes have been designated as the country’s flagship commodity under the One Country, One Priority Product initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).