The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that the Philippines’ total export earnings from mongoes, avocados, and fresh durian exceeded the P5 billion mark last year.

Citing data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), the DA said the country exported 12,548.49 metric tons of mangoes from January to December 2023, yielding P2.9 billion in revenue.

Additionally, the DA stated that during the same period, approximately 3,045.6 metric tons of avocado valued at P377 million and 4,731 metric tons of fresh durian worth P1.89 billion were also exported.

The total value of exports for these three high-value fruits amounted to P5.17 billion.

“The 2023 export figures showed a 316 percent increase for avocado, 109 percent for mango, and a significant 4,000 percent for durian, respectively compared to last year,” the DA said without including the comparative figures.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. attributed the robust growth to the BPI's quality agricultural inputs and technologies to protect crop production.

“For nearly a century, BPI has been at the forefront of agricultural innovation, stewardship, and progress in our nation,” Laurel said.

According to the DA, the plant industry distributed more than 72 metric tons of vegetable seeds and legumes to hundreds of farmers in just last year.

This also included 82,471 planting materials that elevated food production and farmers’ productivity.

Because they have power over licensing and accreditation, BPI certified 5.8 million bags of rice, corn, and field legumes to boost farm yield by 30 percent.

Additionally, the plant agency issued biosafety permits to ensure safe biotechnology practices are followed.

“Over 400,000 clearances were issued by BPI for domestic transport to prevent the spread of pests in the country,” the DA added.

Meanwhile, the plant industry issued around 80,000 import clearances just last year.

Among 84 percent of the certifications were issued within 24 hours.

About 83,000 phytosanitary certificates, which verify products to be disease-free, were also carried out that same year to ensure that agricultural materials were compliant with the Philippines’ international trading requirements.

Moreover, the bureau opened markets for various fruit exports to three different countries, wherein China received durians, South Korea imported Hass avocados, and Philippine mangoes were sent to Australia.

“[The BPI’s push] for modernization of the Philippine plant industry is in line with President Marcos’ plans to elevate the condition of Filipino farmers and, ultimately, food sufficiency and security, through mechanization and modernization,” Tiu Laurel shared.

The agriculture chief also encouraged BPI to resume their work in helping the country face the weather challenges and reach developmental opportunities for the agriculture sector.