Mango development agency sought

A lawmaker has filed a bill establishing the Philippine Mango Industry Development Authority (PMIDA) to adopt a comprehensive program to revitalize mango production, processing and marketing in the country.

Rep. Jun Omar Ebdane (2nd District, Zambales), author of House Bill No. 6393, said mango was a high-value crop.

“The country made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for having the sweetest mango in the world,” Ebdane said in a statement.

However, Ebdane said, the Philippines couldn’t meet the demand of other Asian countries like Hong Kong and Singapore, lagging behind India with 10.8 million metric tons (MT) in annual harvest; China with

3.6 million MT; Thailand with 1.72 million MT; and Pakistan with 1.7 MT.

“Although the country is a major mango-exporting country, its average annual production is only 1.4 million metric tons,” Ebdane said.

The other major markets of fresh mangoes are Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia.

The bill would make PMIDA an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture.