MANILA – The Agriculture department said it is selling mangoes at a discounted price amid a supply surplus.
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said they are planning to sell 1 million kilos of fresh mangoes this month at the TienDA Mango Marketing Program in Metro Manila.
In a Facebook post, Piñol explained that the oversupply was due to the long dry spell “which precipitated profuse flowering and fruiting” of mangoes this season.
“Farmers estimate a surplus of 2 million kilos which they said would just rot if government does not help them sell the fruits,” he said.
“Local processors, aware of the surplus, have also dropped their buying prices.”
Mangoes priced from P20 to P50 per kilo will be sold in the following places:
- Department of Agriculture Central Office, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City
- Bureau of Plant and Industry, Malate, Manila
- Muntinlupa City Hall
- Parañaque City Hall
- Waltermart North Edsa, Quezon City from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Waltermart Makati from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Waltermart Pasay from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The program, launched Monday, was attended by farmers and Japanese fruit-importing company Diamond Star.
Piñol last week said the firm will buy 100 metric tons of mango from the Philippines following President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Japan. (ABS-CBN News)
