Participants adorned in costumes inspired by mangoes showcase their dance skills in the street dancing competition during one of the Dinamulag festivals in Zambales province to celebrate its abundant mango harvest. | PHOTO: Allan Macatuno
IBA, Zambales — The provincial government will transform idle and non-productive lands into mango farms to boost local mango production, Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said on Monday, Jan. 15.
The province, which is known for a sweet variety of mango called “Dinamulag,” takes pride in its vast mango plantations covering 7,500 hectares tilled by 5,000 farmers.
The Guinness Book of World Records in 1995 recognized “Sweet Elena” carabao mangoes from this province as the world’s sweetest.
The Department of Agriculture acknowledged Zambales mangoes as the country’s sweetest variety in 2013.
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Among the provinces in Central Luzon, Zambales leads in mango production, accounting for 36 percent.
During his State of the Province Address on Monday, Jan. 15, Ebdane said establishing a green mango valley would “bolster mango production from planting to processing to distribution in local and international markets.”
In his speech, the governor also announced that the province has regained its first-class status.
“This positive development will undoubtedly benefit our communities by ensuring a more equitable distribution of resources,” said Ebdane in his speech.
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It was in 1954 that the province was categorized as first-class before being downgraded to second-class.
Ebdane added that the province has created a five-year development roadmap that would entail an integrated approach, “encompassing not only infrastructure development but also economic advancement and social development.”
Among the infrastructure projects lined up this year in the province are the new Capitol building, an annex facility for the President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital, upgrading the Zambales Sports Complex, and transforming the old Capitol building into Teatro Zambaleño, a world-class auditorium. INQ