During the recent National Mango Congress in Guimaras, Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit Evelyn Laviña revealed the government agency is working on a loan program for mango farmers.

Financial assistance will be made possible through the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) program and the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF).

“For mango growers and contractors, we are proposing [a] P60,000 production loan per hectare,” she explained. “This will be used to finance the pruning, fertilization, and induction of 100 trees at P600 per tree.”

The government official also discussed educational development opportunities for mango growers.

“We will also be putting up 40 learning sites for mango production, particularly in areas with high production, beginning next year,” Laviña said.

It was earlier reported, while speaking at the said event, Senator Cynthia Villar, who serves as Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food chair, said growing Guimaras mangoes, considered the sweetest variety in the country, could be formally taught.

“Guimaras has [the National Mango Research and Development Center],” she said. “Whatever the result of the research mango, it can be taught.”/WDJ