ILOILO CITY—At least 150 kilos of mangoes that were being spirited into Guimaras were seized by authorities in the island province, which has been recognized by the national government as producing one of the sweetest varieties of mangoes.
Joejin Galvez and Jessabel Galimba of the Guimaras Provincial Office of Agricultural Service (Guimaras POAS) intercepted the fresh mangoes when a boat from Iloilo City docked at the wharf in Buenavista town.
To recall, there is a 2017 provincial ordinance that declares a Special Quarantine Zone for Guimaras mangoes.
In Provincial Ordinance No. 2017-006, bringing mangoes into Guimaras is strictly prohibited. Not only the fruit is prohibited, but also seeds or seedlings.
Guimaras PAOS did not disclose the person caught with trying to smuggle non-Guimaras mangoes, but it was already the second violation.
Guimaras mangoes have a geographical branding and are also exported in foreign markets.