Everyone is welcome to visit the island province of Guimaras. Almost everyone or everything that is, as mangoes from other places brought by visitors will be barred from entering the island.
“The Plant Quarantine Service of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) provides a Plant Quarantine Security System (PQSS) in the island”, said Guimaras Provincial Agriculturist Ronnie D. Morante.
“The PQSS prohibits the introduction of mango fruits and seeds into the island of Guimaras”, Morante explained.
According to Morante, PQSS is in accordance with Proclamation 314, signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos on December 23, 1993, which declares the island of Guimaras as a Special Quarantine Zone. This means that the island is free from infestation of mango pulp weevil and mango seed weevil.
“Since Guimaras is a leading mango producer and is free from pests such as the mango pulp weevil and mango seed weevil, it is necessary for the government to put in place appropriate mechanisms to protect the island's mango industry”, Morante elaborated.
He narrated that the order came about as a result of the BPI-National Mango Research and Development Center’s survey protocol for mango seed and pulp weevils that was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to address quarantine requirements of the US and Australia for these two important pests of mango.
Through the comprehensive survey, Guimaras was certified as "area free" from both insects and is the only province that can export fresh mangoes to both countries. To maintain the area-free status of the island, regular pest monitoring is conducted.
“In the case of interception, the Plant Quarantine Officers shall destroy or return the mango or its plant parts at the expense of its owner,” Morante emphasized.
However, Morante did not report any incidence of interception of the mango fruit and plant parts in the island.
Local government initiative
“The Guimaras Provincial Local Government also implements the Provincial Ordinance No. 2011-003, Series of 2011: Regulating the harvesting and sale of immature mango fruits intended for table ripe consumption in the Province of Guimaras”, Morante added.
The purpose of the ordinance is to maintain the status of Guimaras as producer of the sweetest and the best quality mangoes and encourage mango growers, contractors, producers, traders, retailers, and sellers to harvest and sell mangoes based on the required stage of maturity.
The provincial agriculturist clarified that the ordinance applies to all stakeholders involved in mango production, harvesting, and marketing in Guimaras.
Morante shared that another initiative of the provincial government is the application of geographical indication (GI) for Guimaras mango at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
He said that the application is being pursued to provide legal names to the Guimaras mango; prevent from misleading the public or consumers; and to prevent unfair trade competition with other mangoes of another area of origin.
Incidentally, Morante reported the regulatory measures on the Guimaras mango in a techno forum during the recently held 19th Manggahan Festival. The forum was one of the activities of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) FIESTA, which became an ancillary program of the festival.
FIESTA or Farms and Industry Encounter through the Science and Technology Agenda is a promotional modality highlighting science and technology (S&T) behind agricultural products through the conduct of activities or events.