BOTOLAN, Zambales — Senator Imee Marcos is pushing for the enactment of the Mango Export Bill to assist mango farmers in Zambales.

During a dialogue with mango growers here last Tuesday, the lady senator said the Mango Export Act aims to boost the country’s mango industry by increasing farmlands, creating storage and processing facilities and providing support for farmers to compete in the global market.

The dialogue is part of her “ImeeSolusyon” initiative for the agricultural sector, with most participants being mango or rice farmers from Zambales. It also addressed factors contributing to the declining mango harvest, such as climate change and a lack of new technology.

Marcos also highlighted Senate Bill 1902, the Doubling Farmers’ Income Act, which aims to increase farmers’ income by boosting the production of high-value crops.

The bill includes provisions for strengthening value-added processing to increase the price of harvested mangoes. With new technology and climate-resilient farming, the Zambales mango industry will continue to grow.

For rice farmers, Marcos presented Senate Bill 1720, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Tax Immunity Act, which aims to remove taxes on fertilizers and pesticides to lower operational costs.

She also urged the strengthening of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which provides subsidies for seedlings, irrigation and machinery to improve farmers’ livelihoods.

“We will continue our work to help our farmers and fisherfolk since they are the backbone of our food security in the Philippines,” she said.