House Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar underscored the need to boost the country’s mango fruit processing technology to preserve and enhance the quality of mangoes and make them available throughout the year.
Villar made the statement as she cited the Philippines’ competitiveness in mango production globally and expressed her gratitude for San Carlos City Mayor Julier Resuello, Pangasinan Board Member Vici Ventanilla, and the residents of San Carlos for inviting her to join the Mango-Bamboo Festival.
“Kitang-kita po natin na napakalaki ng potensyal ng industriyang ito at marami pa po tayong pwedeng gawin, marami pa po tayong magagawa para magtuloy-tuloy ang pag-improve ng industriya ng mangga lalo na dito sa San Carlos para po magkaroon ng karagdagang kaalaman sa produksyon, sa orchard management, maaring sa technology ng processing para lalo pa pong tumaas ang yield at production ng ating mga mango producers,” Villar said.
The lawmaker noted that mangoes are the second most consumed fruit in the world at 28%, next to bananas (29.4%).
“Ang mangga po ang ‘second largest most used fruit in the world’ kaya’t nakaka-proud po na ito ang isinusulong na industriya ninyo dito sa San Carlos,” she said. “Nasisiguro po natin na bukod sa makakapagbigay sa ating ng pagkain ay tiyak po na ito rin ay bubuhay at magpapaangat ng buhay ng ating mga kababayan.”
She said that her mother, Sen. Cynthia Villar, told her that the Philippines ranks 10th in the world in mango production, while her father, former Senate President Manny Villar, emphasized the need to boost agricultural output to improve farm production in the country.
“Bukod po diyan ay ibang klase ang tamis ng ating Philippine mangoes, at meron pa nga po tayong tinatawag na ating carabao mangoes kaya’t dahil nga po diyan ay todo-suporta po (tayo) sa paggawa ng polisiya na magpapataasng ani at kalidad ng mangga sapamamagitan ng pagsuporta sa ‘High Value Crops Development’ program ng Department of Agriculture,” Villar added.
