SAMAL Island in Davao del Norte has been declared free from the pests mango pulp weevil (Sternochetus frigidus) and mango seed weevil (Sternochetus mangiferae), resulting in the expansion of mango export markets to countries which require areas free from these pests.
The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) issued Special Quarantine Administrative Order 2 which declared the area free from the two pests.
“Based on surveys, it was found that the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, is absolutely free from mango pulp weevil and mango seed weevil,” the order signed by Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and BPI Director Clarito M. Barron read.
The initial survey of the area was conducted from March 2007 to February 2008 under the project undertaken by the BPI with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). A low-monitoring survey conducted from March 2008 up to present confirmed the absence of the two pests in the island.
“The absence of both pests can result in the expansion of mango export markets to countries which require areas free from the two weevils,” the order read.
The government said it implemented quarantine measures to ensure that the area would remain free from the two pests.
Because the island has been declared free from the two pests, the government prohibited the movement, transfer and carrying of mango-planting materials, fruits or parts into Samal Island except when these are in limited quantity and will be used for experimental purposes only. The permission of BPI is required for this purpose.
Those who will violate this will be fined not more than P20,000 or imprisonment, depending on the discretion of the court.
Australia and the United States are among the major buyers of Philippine mangoes. The two countries require that mangoes sourced from the Philippines should come from areas that are free from mango pulp weevil and mango seed weevil.
Figures from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) showed that the Philippines produced 667,290 metric tons of mango from January to June this year. The figure is 5.26 percent lower than what was produced in the same period last year.
BAS said the frequent rains felt in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, the Bicol region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga affected mango trees during their flowering stage and caused the decline in production. There were also less flower inductions during the period due to frequent rains and high cost of inputs in Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Soccsksargen and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
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By: Jennifer A. Ng
Source: Business Mirror, Oct. 2, 2011
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