The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and other government units, particularly the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have joined hands to help the mango export industry recover from its first quarter slump this year.

The IPO is now working on patenting the name "Manila mango" for the country's mango exports while the DOST is encouraging mango farmers to apply new technologies for product packaging and quarantine measures.

These actions are, apparently, in response to the slumping mango export sales in recent years.

According to the Bureau of Agriculture Statistics, the production of fresh mangoes dropped by nine percent from 232 million metric tons (first quarter of 2004) to 212 million metric tons (first quarter this year).

IPO wants "Manila" name back to RP's mangoes

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) urged local mango exporters recently to patent the name "Manila mango" to prevent other countries, particularly Mexico, from using the term to promote their mangoes.

The Manila mango, one of the varieties of the Philippine carabao mango, is more popular in the US market. These Manila mangoes come from Mexico. On the other hand, the ones exported by the Philippines are known as Philippine mangoes.

Adrian Cristobal Jr., IPO director, said Filipinos should look for ways on how to provide local mango farmers with the necessary intellectual property protection.

It was discovered that, in 1994, there was an application in the United States Patent and Trademark Office for registration of the trademark "Manila mango." It was abandoned in 1995, though.

The IPO also searched the intellectual property offices of Canada, Australia, Mexico and Spain but there was no registered "Manila mango" trademark.

"If there is any trademark application on Manila mango, we will support our local producers to institute the necessary action to oppose it," the IPO director stated.

According to historical researches, Mexicans came into possession of mango from the Philippines through the 16th century galleon trade, also known as the Manila-Acapulco trade. Many historians are one in saying that the Philippine mangoes that were brought to Mexico through the galleon trade were called "Manila mango." When the galleon trade ended, the Mexicans grew mango trees whose parents came from the Philippines. Since then, the Mexicans adopted and retained the "Manila" name.

The Philippines, where the Manila mangoes originated, is behind Mexico in the list of the top mango exporting countries. RP is still trying to overtake Mexico's $200-million fresh mango trade market with the United States.

New technologies to beef up mango sales
Three years ago, a packaging bag designed to prolong the shelf life of so-called Philippine super mangoes was introduced to our mango exporters.

The zeolite-treated bag can extend the mangoes' shelf life by 22 days. With this, exporters can now transport their products to distant markets by sea instead of air freight, which is costly.

The "Modified Atmosphere Packaging" was initiated by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions.

Last May, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources and Development under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) launched a project called "Promotion of Philippine Mango Products Through Innovative Packaging and Participation in International Trade Fairs." The project aims to help mango product manufacturers enhance their packaging and increase the shelf life of their products. This DOST-initiated project was intended for mango products such as mango roll, mango pie, dried mangoes and burong mangga.

A month later, it was the fresh mango exporters' turn once again to enhance their market sales through the application of more advanced and stricter quarantine measures. The Mango Product Exporters Confederation Inc. announced last June that local mango exporters have been able to comply with the guidelines set by Japan's Ministry of Health.

Japan reportedly needs 7,000 metric tons of fresh mangoes every year and it is currently the Philippines' third largest market for fresh and processed mangoes.

"The government and private exporters…negotiated with Japanese authorities regarding the pesticide residue level for Philippine mango exports. We have prevailed," said Roberto C. Amores, president of the Mango Product Exporters Confederation Inc.

With the application of the improved technology in mango harvest and quality check processes, the exporters are optimistic that the country will exceed $40 million in income in the coming years as the Chinese market is eyeing the Philippine super mango variety.

The exported mango sales are also expected to go up once the international intellectual property offices approve the Philippines' request to acquire the "Manila mango" trademark.