Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol was in Moscow to promote Philippine agriculture when he chanced upon a big ripe mango being sold in the market.
He was shocked to learn that one piece cost 1,200 rubles or more than Php 1,000.
Then, in front of a camera, he tasted the mango. His eyes and mouth curled in disdain.
“Walang panama ito sa manggang Cebu, mas lalo na sa manggang Guimaras!” Piñol narrated in his Facebook video.
Philippine Ambassador to Moscow Carlos Sorreta told Piñol that he has been trying to promote Guimaras mangoes to Eastern Europe but was often told that there is no supply.
So immediately, Piñol called DA Region VI to determine whether there is available supply. Upon consultation with Guimaras farmers, they learned that harvest has already started and that shipment could be made by first week of April.
Aside from Guimaras, Piñol said they will also market mangoes from Zambales, Pangasinan, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao and Cotabato.
Piñol also visited Belarus and his delegation treated Philippine Honorary Consul to Belarus Viktor Chevstov with Guimaras mangoes.
Piñol quoted the Belarusian business leader as saying that the Philippine mango is “far superior” and that he won’t eat any other mango after having tasted a Guimaras mango.
Carabao mangoes in the Philippines is considered by the Guinness World of Records as the sweetest in the world. But the Philippines only lags as the sixth largest mango exporter in the world. Most of its mango exports are by-products such dried and pureed.
Mango producers said they have a hard time exporting fresh mangoes because of high cost of transport and storage, and that some countries impose stricter phytosanitary measures.
