Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 3
Quezon City, Metro Manila | *

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3243

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Lex Anthony Cris A. Colada

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Touted as the national fruit of the country, the Philippine mango has rose to
international prominence due to its superior quality and taste than other varieties. It
is one of the more important fruit crops in the Philippines based on export volume
and value. But although its popularity has not waned, its production and
development have dwindled over the years, necessitating policy intervention from
the government.

Although the trend on area planted has consistently increased, reaching
188,139 hectares in 2009, the value and volume of production have fluctuated
through the years. After breaching the 1,000,000 metric ton level in 2003, it went up
and down year on year reaching 771,441 metric tons in 2009 and rising slightly to
790,000 metric tons as of September 2010. As for the value of production, mango
has been posting negative growth rates (using current prices) due to its decreasing
value from P18.8 billion in 2008 to P17.2 billion in 2009 to P16.9 billion as of
September 2010. The declining performance of the industry affect the livelihood of
the 2.5 million farmers dependent on the industry who are mostly small farmers
engaged in backyard gardening

There is no contest as to the gleaming opportunities for mangoes. It can be
produced all-year round in most parts of the country. It also has a high domestic and
international demand and ready and expanding export markets. However, its
competitive edge is blunted by other varieties from mango-producing countries such
as Mexico, Australia, Thailand, and Vietnam due to a number of obstacles to
production.

One of the challenges faced by the industry is the predominance of backyard
farms which accordingly poses problems to quality control. Of the total area planted,
73% is owned by small farmers. Furthermore, the industry is saddled by erratic and




relatively low yield, susceptibility to insect pests, diseases and disorders, short
storage life, high freight cost, disaggregate sector, and multi-layered marketing.

It is, thus, of great consequence, that we enact policies that would refresh and
bolster the competitiveness of the Philippine mango through lower production costs,
improved phytosanitary measures and quarantine protocols in line with Good
Agricultural Practices (GAP), decreased post-harvest losses, modernized techniques
and technologies, comprehensive research and development, and effective and
concerted local and international marketing strategies

While we still can, we must prune all the obstacles and challenges which
threaten to rot the mango industry unto its eventual downfall. The government must
institute far-reaching policies that would genuinely develop the national fruit's
productivity, marketability, and viability.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

“ )
4

—

LEX ANTHONY CRIS A, COLADA
AAMBIS-Owa Party-list

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

“No, 3243

HOUSE BILL NO.
Introduced by Representative Lex Anthony Cris A Colada

AN ACT
TO PROMOTE THE PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, MARKETING AND
DISTRIBUTION OF PHILIPPINE MANGO, MANDATING THE CREATION OF A
FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Mango Development Act
of 2022."

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
develop and promote a globally competitive mango industry with the objective of
increasing production of safe and healthful quality mango fruits, with lower cost of
production and marketing, generating higher income for mango growers and traders,
instituting comprehensive research and development, modernizing post-harvest
techniques, and implementing effective marketing strategies.

Section 3. Site Identification, The Department of Agriculture, in coordination with
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agrarian
Reform and Department of Science and Technology, and the municipal, city and
provincial governments concemed, shall identify the broad areas suitable for planting
and propagation of Philippine Mango, within six (6) months after the effectivity of this
Act: Provided, that such site identification shall be reviewed at appropriate intervals
to ensure consistency with the agrarian reform program and the national land use
policy.

Section 4. Philippine Mango Framework for Development. The Department of
Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department
of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Science and Technology,
mango growers’ cooperatives and organizations, local government units, and the
private sector, shall formulate a five-year Framework for Development, to be
validated and updated annually. Such Framework shall serve as guide to the
formulation and implementation of plans, programs and projects for the production,
marketing, processing and distribution of Philippine mango for food and commercial





needs, as envisioned in this Act. The Framework shall likewise provide for the
following:

a. Investment Promotion and Facilitation - The Department of
Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry shali develop
programs establishing links between stakeholders in the mango
industry and Government Financial Institutions (GFls) and other
financial cooperatives. The Department of Agriculture and Department
of Trade and Industry shall likewise develop and implement programs
that would establish reasonable and innovative investment incentives
to attract more players in the mango industry;

b. Production Support and Extension ~ The Department of Agriculture,
Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and
Technology, Cooperative Development Authority, state universities and
colleges and other relevant government agencies shall establish
programs which promote and provide adequate training on adapting
technologies to individuals engaged in production, marketing,
processing and distribution of Philippine mangoes, strengthen growers’
cooperatives and organizations involved in the sustainable and viable
development of Philippine mangoes, and afford opportunities for
participation in international conventions, workshops and fora. The
Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the state universities
and colleges, the Department of Trade and Industry, shall likewise
make good seeds and materials readily available to mango
growers/cooperatives to ensure high yield and good quality of
Philippine mango;

c. Research and Development — The Department of Agriculture and the
Department of Science and Technology shall establish sites and/or
pilot farms for the cultivation and propagation of Philippine mangoes.
The same also covers the transfer and improvement of appropriate
technology and techniques, which will be utilized in every phase of
mango production, marketing, processing and distribution. Particular
emphasis shall be made on adoption and upgrading of post-harvest
technology;

d. Market Promotion and Development ~ The Department of
Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry shall link-up
agribusiness cooperatives and organizations directly with consumers’
cooperatives and organizations. This also includes exploring national
and international markets and facilitating the participation of local
growers and producers in local and international conferences, trade
fairs, and exhibits;

e. Quality Assurance — To ensure health and proper trading, the
Department of Agriculture shall establish and enforce standards in
grading, sampling and inspection, tests and analysis, specifications,
nomenclature, units of measurement, packaging, preservation,
conservation and transportation of Philippine mangoes;

f. Infrastructure Development - Access to post harvest facilities,
storage and distribution/transport facilities of existing government




agencies shall be facilitated by the Department of Agriculture.
Assistance shall be given to qualified and viable growers/cooperatives
in the availment of soft loans or grants for the construction of post-
harvest, processing and storage facilities; and

g. The Department of Agriculture and DOST-Philippine Council for
Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and
Development shall establish a Philippine Mango Information Center in
areas identified pursuant to Section 3 of this Act.

Section 5. Philippine Mango Development Fund (PMDF). To provide for the
funding requirements for the production, marketing, processing and distribution of
Philippine mango, there is hereby created a Philippine Mango Development Fund
(PMOF), with an initial amount of five hundred million pesos (P500,000,000.00) to be
taken from the existing budget of the Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, the
PMDF shall be sourced from the amounts be appropriated in the General
Appropriations Act in the year following its enactment into law. Other sources of
funds, including but not limited to borrowings from local and international financial
institutions, shall also be considered to further support the Fund

Section 6. Inter-Agency Committee. A Committee, composed of a representative
from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Reform, the
Department of Finance, the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of
the Philippines, the Cooperative Development Authority, the Department of Science
and Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of the Interior and Local
Government and one (1) each from the mango growers and commercial producers’
sectors to be designated by the Secretary of Agriculture, shall formulate and
prescribe, after public hearing and publication as required by law, the implementing
rules and regulations in order to carry out the provisions of this Act. The
representatives from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and
Industry shall be the chairman and the vice-chairman, respectively, of the
Committee.

The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture shall report to both Houses of
Congress on the status of the implementation of this Act bi-annually.

Section 7. Repealing Clause. All laws or parts thereof, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly: Provided, however, that nothing in this Act shall be construed
or applied as amending the CARL and other laws on agrarian reform.

Section 8. Separability Clause. If any of the provisions of this Act is declare invalid,
the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect immediately following its
publication in a newspaper of general circulation or in the Official Gazette, whichever
comes first.

Approved,