THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has assured protection and security of mangoes produced in the island province of Guimaras, and enforced quality standards of the product when exported to other areas.
DTI Assistant Secretary Blesila Lantayona said she will immediately ask the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to fast track the issuance of Geographic Indication (GI) Certification to the Guimaras mangoes in order to enforce standards to be set on the only mango produced in the Philippines in a weevil-free or pests-free province.
Speaking at the opening rites on Monday, October 10, of the three-day program on DTI services “Negosyo, Konsumer at Iba Pa” in Iloilo City, Lantayona assured that lawyer Lennie Raz of IPO will look into the issuance of GI.
The DTI official said the GI will feature specific product markings issued by IPO.
Similarly, DTI had already awarded a certificate of recognition to the mango growers of Guimaras for their efforts in producing and promoting the fruit as a major export commodity to other countries.
Lantayona assured that she will look over the practices of unscrupulous traders and sellers especially in Metro Manila in selling mangoes produced in other areas such as Zambales and Pangasinan as a product of Guimaras by pasting fake stickers on the fruit.
The DTI official said the mislabeling and misrepresenting of products produced in a specific area is illegal and punishable by law.
Mislabeling the other products as produced in Guimaras is detrimental to the economy of the island province and affects the tourism and socioeconomic potentials of Guimaras.