Press Release
February 23, 2009

Loren presses less costly test on new mango technology

Senator Loren Legarda urged today the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to consider conducting less expensive tests on a new technology touted to prolong the shelf life of mangoes in transit to export markets like the United States.

Loren, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, issued the statement as she noted a plan by the BPI to test the so-called controlled atmosphere technology next month on an actual mango shipment from Manila to California to Chicago, Illinois next month.

"If the test fails, then the mango shipment will be lost. Can we afford that? I think the BPI should consider more controlled tests on the laboratory on a few samples or just a small shipment for test purposes," she said.

Nonetheless, the senator expressed support to efforts by the BPI and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to reduce freight costs of Philippine mangoes, known worldwide as Manila Super mangoes, to make them more competitive abroad.

By air, the freight cost accounts for up to 60 percent of the landed cost of RP mangoes, according to BPI Technical Director Hernani Golez.

The concurrent chief of the National Mango Research and Development Center, Golez said that because of the high air freight cost, a five-kilogram box of Philippine mangoes costs $39-$40, almost triple the $14.50 price of Mexican mangoes.

If the controlled atmosphere technology would prove to be a success, Philippine mangoes can be exported by ship to distant markets like the US. The technology reportedly delays the ripening of mangoes, thereby allowing them to reach distant markets in satisfactory condition.

Data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics show that the Philippines exported 37,157 kilos of fresh mangoes to the US worth $183,675 in 2007.

"Considering that Philippine mangoes are among the best, if not the best in the world, we should move to increase our export of this fruit by lowering freight costs and by meeting phytosanitary standards," Loren said.

The Philippines is said to be the sixth biggest producer of mangoes, accounting for 4% of the world supply. However, the country's average annual production of 1.4 million metric tons is still way below that of India (10.8 million MT) and China (3.62 million MT).

Touted as the sweetest in the world, Philippine mangoes are exported to Hongkong, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia, with the latter allowing entry only to mangoes from Guimaras Island.

Neighboring Asian countries like Hong Kong and Singapore have long been importing the country's fresh mangoes. Other major markets of fresh mangoes from the Philippines are Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and lately Australia (which allow only those fresh mangoes coming from Guimaras Island).

Data from the DA shows that the country generates as much as $35 million annually from mango export, most of which come from Guimaras, Pangasinan, Isabela, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte and Nueva Vizcaya.

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