A milestone for Philippine agriculture and diaspora entrepreneurship unfolded last week in Rome, where the inaugural commercial shipment of Philippine mangoes, over half a ton, arrived at Fiumicino Airport. This marks the first time Philippine mangoes have been commercially exported to Italy, a feat made possible by a group of Filipino entrepreneurs and supported by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Embassy in Rome.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the historic shipment, calling it a realization of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s vision to expand Philippine agricultural exports, increase farmers' income, and generate more jobs in the sector. "It shows what can happen when public institutions, private initiative, and overseas Filipinos work together to elevate Philippine products to global standards," he said in a statement.
In her report to Secretary Laurel, Agriculture Attaché to Italy Dr. Josyline C. Javelosa credited a dynamic group of Filipino small-business owners in Rome, alongside a few members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Italy, for making the venture possible. Although they had no prior experience in importing fresh produce, the group succeeded through persistent coordination and the technical support of the DA.
The mangoes in this first shipment were sourced from farms in Pangasinan, with the DA's Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) ensuring full compliance with all sanitary and phytosanitary certification requirements. BPI Director Glenn Panganiban noted that many Philippine mango farms already meet Italy's stringent plant health standards.
This export success also stems from ongoing technical discussions led by the BPI as the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of the Philippines, including engagement with global bodies like the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM).
Secretary Tiu Laurel emphasized that this maiden export is more than a one-time success: "This development should encourage our mango farmers to aim for premium quality. It also opens the door for more investment—both from government and the private sector—to strengthen the competitiveness of Philippine mangoes globally."
The shipment aligns with the Marcos administration's broader international development strategy. Mangoes have been designated as a flagship commodity under the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) One Country One Priority Product initiative, which aims to build sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural value chains.
Dr. Javelosa, who also serves as the Philippines' Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN's Rome-based agencies (FAO, WFP, and IFAD), highlighted the strategic importance of mangoes in global cooperation: "This export milestone reflects the Philippines' commitment to green agriculture and inclusive development."
To support long-term growth in this sector, the Philippines has included mangoes in the FAO's Hand-in-Hand Investment Initiative, which connects donor and development support with national agricultural plans. In October 2024, Secretary Laurel presented an investment case in Rome worth USD 50 million to sustainably support 27,000 additional mango-farming households.
For more information:
Philippine Department of Agriculture
Tel: +63 (2) 8928 8741
Email: [email protected]
www.da.gov.ph