A lawmaker has filed a bill creating the Philippine Mango Industry Development Authority (Pmida), which will be tasked to adopt a comprehensive program to revitalize mango production, processing, and marketing in the country.

Rep. Jun Omar Ebdane of Zambales province, author of House Bill 6393, said that the mango is a high-value and a big-earner crop and ranks third as the most important fruit compared to the banana and pineapple.

“The country has found its way in the Guinness Book of World Record as the sweetest mango in the world,” Ebdane said.

Ebdane lamented, however, that the country cannot meet the demand of other Asian countries like Hong Kong and Singapore, lagging behind India with 10.8 million metric tons (MT) 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. Being a typhoon-prone country, food processors and exporters often expect a decline in domestic mango production,” Ebdane said.

Under the bill, the Pmida, which will be an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, shall provide support and assistance to big and small mango farmers and processor in marketing their produce.