The reality of the huge damage to the province’s agricultural sector by Typhoon ‘Cosme’ may finally sink in the consciousness of Pangasinenses when they realize that their favorite juicy mangoes will not be available in its usual abundance till perhaps the end of the year.

And if these are available, its price can be considered exorbitant by the province’s standard pre-Cosme period.

It is estimated that the mango industry alone suffered losses amounting to an unprecedented P1.7 billion.

Dalisay Moya, officer-in-charge at the Office Provincial Agriculturist, said heavily-affected mango producing areas are in districts 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The worst hit was San Carlos City where some 80,000 mango trees have been reported to have been severely damaged.

Other mango producing towns like Malasiqui and Mangatarem reported 40,000 and 20,000 respectively of their trees have been heavily battered. 

The damaged fruit-bearing carabao mango trees were either totally or partially uprooted, lying on their side. 

Losses from harvestable mango fruits this season have been estimated at P49 million.

The fallen trees may still be rehabilitated by covering the exposed roots with soil, nurtured with enough fertilizer.

However, Moya said rehabilitated mango trees can only be expected to begin bearing fruits only after 3 to 5 years and in lesser quatity owing to the reduced sizes of the fallen trees. 

She suggested replanting of new trees may even be a better option for mango growers.

A newly planted tree takes five to seven years to begin bearing fruit.

As result of the severe damage to the province’s mango industry, Moya said Pangasinan which traditionally produces 40% of total mango production in the country making it the country’s top producer, may soon lose that status in the years ahead.

Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan said Pangasinan’s mango industry has been set back 10 years all because of ‘Cosme’.

“This is a major blow to the economy of Pangasinan,” Baraan said.

The   province harvests mango fruits twice a year.#

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