Mango confab set in Iloilo

Mango growers nationwide, along with concerned government officials and prominent agriculturists will meet in Iloilo City on May 17 to 18 to explore ways of improving the competitiveness of the Philippine mango in the international market.

Dubbed the 8th National Mango Congress, the gathering will have as resource speakers a pool of experts on the subject led by Dr. Hernani Golez of the National Mango Research Development Center (NMRDC) based in the island-province of Guimaras, considered as the mango capital of the country.

The event, to be hosted by the Iloilo Mango Growers Cooperative (IMGC), will have for its theme "Enhancing the Global Competitiveness of the Philippine Mango."

The delegates will also get a chance to experience the famous Guimaras Manggahan Festival, visit the NMRDC and tour the Oro Verde and Dole farms on the island during the last day of the congress.

Capping the two-day affair is a fellowship night for the delegates, the congress organizers and guests.

Other entities involved in the preparations and conduct of the plenary sessions are the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the local government units of Iloilo City, Iloilo province, Guimaras, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and some non-government organizations.