Fifteen metric tons of fresh mangoes coming from all over Luzon, including a few hundred kilos from Mindanao, were snapped up by consumers at the opening day of the Metro Mango Marketing Program launched by the Department of Agriculture in several areas in Metro Manila today.
The buying spree was so intense that by the time Agriculture’s new poster boy, movie actor Robin Padilla, arrived to act as the salesman and promoter of the mangoes, there was barely enough mango for him to sell in the DA Central Office in Quezon City.
Robin, who has expressed interest to get into active farming and fisheries, has volunteered to help the Department of Agricutlure in its promotions and marketing programs.
He has volunteered to host a TV show which will also be shown in the social media which will show the benefits and profits of farming and fishing.
Robin has also said he will develop a 5-hectare farm he owns in Barangay Nueva Vida, M’lang, North Cotabato into a model farm which will also serve as a rehabiltiation center for former drug dependents.
His show is expected to start this month.
Annray Villota Rivera of the DA Agricultural Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) reported brisk sales of mangoes in other areas where the TienDA Metro Mango Marketing Program was launched simultaneously.
The Mango Marketing Program was launched by the DA following reports that at least 2-million kilos of mango were in danger of rotting as a sudden surplus production of the fruits came as a result of the long dry spell caused by El Niño.
The launching today was attended by farmers several mango producing regions of the country and DA officials, including a representative of a Japanese fruit importing company Diamond Star, Tetusji Yurakawa.
Starting today, fresh mangoes will be sold from P20 to P50 per kilo, depending on the quality in the following places:
-Department of Agriculture Central Office, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City;
-Bureau of Plant and Industry, Malate, Manila;
-Muntinlupa City Hall
-Paranaque City Hall
-Waltermart North Edsa, Quezon City from 9am-9pm;
-Waltermart Makati from 9am to 9pm and,
-Waltermart Pasay from 9am to 9pm.
Fresh highland and lowland vegetables, Coconut, Commerical rice worth P36/kg., and other agribased food products will also be made available in TienDA Plus Metrowide Mango Festival in Muntinlupa and Paranaque City Halls.
The Metro Mango Marketing Program will continue tomorrow in the same venues with more supplies coming from the provinces.
(Photos of the launching of the marketing program were taken by the DA AFID team.)
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