From Guimaras to Europe: A ‘Patikim’ of Philippine Mango Excellence

The Department of Trade and Industry Region VI, through DTI-Guimaras and in coordination with the DTI Supply Chain and Logistics Group, launched a technical test shipment of fresh Guimaras mangoes to Europe during a send-off ceremony on June 11, 2026.

The pilot shipment consisted of 100 kilograms of fresh Guimaras mangoes bound for Brussels, Belgium, for distribution to Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and France.

The initiative seeks to map, evaluate, and stress-test the end-to-end logistics corridor needed to move highly perishable agricultural goods from local farms to long-haul international destinations.

The project builds on the logistical frameworks established during the “Mangoes to the Metro” initiative, which optimized domestic supply chain coordination and market linkages for Guimaras mango growers.

The international pilot extends those supply chain gains across borders, with a focus on reducing postharvest losses and maintaining product quality through rigorous transit management and streamlined freight handling.

The initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve agricultural logistics connectivity, streamline supply chains, and reduce transport bottlenecks to make local produce more resilient and competitive.

“This test shipment is a vital step forward for our local exporters,” said DTI Region VI Acting Regional Director Mutya Eusores. “By working hand-in-hand with the Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG), we are able to closely map out how our fresh Guimaras mangoes travel across borders, identify critical infrastructure gaps, and fine-tune our handling practices to ensure our premium products arrive in top condition.”

“We are also collaborating with the Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC), particularly our foreign posts in Europe, to monitor the cargo’s arrival condition, and with IP Philippines (IPOPHL) to ensure the logistical integrity of Guimaras mangoes as the country’s premier Geographical Indication (GI) product.”

“Through this initiative, we are trying to understand and learn about the entire logistical value chain—from first-mile farm sourcing and specialized compliance packaging to multi-modal air freight efficiency and last-mile delivery reception.”

The test shipment will validate critical performance indicators across the supply chain, including packaging durability against transit stress, airport handling transit times, and shelf life upon arrival.

Data gathered from the pilot will inform future handling protocols, multimodal transport strategies, and logistics capacity-building for Guimaras mangoes and other high-value Philippine agricultural products.

Upon arrival in Brussels, the cargo will undergo quality inspections before being routed to Philippine Trade and Investment Centers in Paris, Berlin, Madrid, and The Hague.

Technical feedback from these points of receipt will provide data on product condition, transit impacts, and shelf life.

The initiative is being implemented through a strategic public-private collaboration aimed at optimizing agricultural supply chains.

The fresh Guimaras mangoes were secured through the provincial government of Guimaras, while specialized export-grade packaging solutions were developed and provided by San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp.

Airspeed International Corp. managed the freight forwarding and multimodal logistics requirements to help ensure adherence to transport schedules.

“Advanced, resilient packaging is a vital link in agricultural logistics,” said Manley Miranda, Sales Director of San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation. “We are proud to support this initiative by engineering packaging solutions that preserve product integrity and mitigate post-harvest damage from origin to destination. This collaboration underscores how modern packaging systems strengthen the country’s agricultural logistics value chain.”

Airspeed International Corp. highlighted the role of seamless logistics integration in preserving value for agricultural producers.

“An efficient, unbroken logistics pipeline is essential for connecting local agricultural hubs to distant global nodes,” said Mariz Regis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Airspeed International Corporation. “This initiative demonstrates how strategic logistics management and coordinated freight handling can successfully bridge geographical distances for delicate, high-value cargo. We look forward to developing more logistics corridors that empower local supply chains to scale.”

Guimaras mangoes are known for their sweetness, quality, and origin-linked reputation.

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines approved Guimaras mangoes as the country’s first registered geographical indication in May 2023, covering mangoes produced exclusively in the island province of Guimaras.

As a registered GI product, Guimaras mangoes require a specialized and reliable supply chain system to protect product quality, origin, and market reputation.

Through the technical test shipment, the DTI Supply Chain and Logistics Group and DTI Region VI aim to establish predictable transit timelines, optimize transport workflows, and build a repeatable logistics framework to support sustainable long-distance trade.

The dispatch of the test shipment highlights the value of multistakeholder collaboration in improving transport networks for Philippine agriculture.

Supported by the provincial government of Guimaras, San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp., Airspeed International Corp., Emirates, the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry, the Region VI Plant Quarantine Service in Iloilo, the Bureau of Customs, and other industry partners, the initiative aims to deliver actionable supply chain insights, strengthen logistics connectivity, and enhance the operational efficiency of the Philippine mango supply chain.