Philippine mangoes from Pangasinan have recently made their inaugural entry into the Italian market through a commercial shipment, arriving at Rome's Fiumicino Airport. This development, reported by the Department of Agriculture (DA) on June 1, 2025, indicates a shift in the Philippine agricultural export strategies. The transfer of over half a ton of mangoes signifies a new dimension for Philippine agriculture amidst looming economic requirements, such as the upcoming redemption of Covid bonds.
These mangoes have started to find their place in select Filipino stores across Italy, indicating the initial penetration into the Mediterranean market. This advancement was facilitated by a consortium of Filipino small-business owners in Rome, which collaborated with the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Embassy in Rome.
Prior to this export, mangoes from Pangasinan met Europe's strict sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, confirmed by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). This compliance underscores the readiness of Philippine mango farms to fulfill Italy's plant health standards.
According to Secretary of Agriculture, Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., this event aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s vision to expand agricultural export markets, boost farmers' incomes, and engage investments in the farm sector. This outcome was seen as a unifying effort by public institutions and private entities to elevate Philippine produce internationally.
Agriculture Attaché Dr. Josyline Javelosa detailed how Filipino entrepreneurs in Italy, under the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, managed to navigate Italy's import regulations with support from the DA Attaché's Office, thus fulfilling their aspiration of introducing Filipino mangoes to the Italian market. BPI Director Glenn Panganiban also confirmed the readiness of many Philippine mango farms for European market standards.
The importation success follows strategic preparatory actions by the DA-BPI, documented through forums like the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM). Classified under the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) One Country One Priority Product initiative, mangoes have become a symbol of climate-smart agriculture. In 2024, a $50-million investment strategy was presented in Rome under the FAO's Hand-in-Hand Investment Initiative to enhance the livelihoods of additional mango-farming households in the Philippines.
The Philippine Embassy in Italy emphasized the potential of this accomplishment to diversify and enrich the country's trade portfolio in tandem with sustainable agricultural practices. This initiative is seen as an opening for the Philippine mango industry to further broaden its scope and elevate its global presence.
Source: BusinessMirror