First stop was the Packaging Research and Development Center of the Philippines of the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology and Development Institute (DOST-ITDI).

Investment on this project primarily aimed to develop an innovative and appropriate packaging system for banana, mango, and vegetables to increase their competitiveness and marketability both for domestic and export markets.

Ms. Daisy Tañafranca of DOST-ITDI said: “Producers and manufacturers are encouraged to think of other exciting ways and means to process their products.”

The group also toured ITDI’s facilities and equipment for testing, weighing, measuring, and producing diverse packaging materials.

The second stop was the Diamond Star Agro-Products, Inc. compound at the Food Terminal Inc. in Tagig, City, where the group witnessed the second commercial trial opening of the controlled atmosphere storage van for mangoes.

This was another trial that validated the success of establishing the protocol that could delay ripening, minimize disease incidence, and prolong the shelf life of mango fruits.
Making Philippine mangoes highly competitive in the global market is a major objective of this program.