Department of Agriculture’s Mango Weevil Research Team (MWRT) composed of DA-MiMaRoPa's OIC-Regional Director, Dr. Louella Rowena Lorenzana and Science Research Specialist, Edison Bauzon with DA-CALABARZON's Agriculturist II, Elvira Litan, received Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award from the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
Along with them are the counterparts from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) namely Glenda Obra, Supervising Science Research Specialist; Sotero Resilva, Science Research Specialist; and Luzviminda Lanuza, Head of PNRI Irradiation Services.
The award was first given to them in the regional level of Outstanding Public Officials and Government Employees that happened at the Luxent Hotel, Timog Avenue, Quezon City on September 11, 2017.
Then, it was followed by a conferment at the Malacañan Palace where President Rodrigo Roa Duterte personally handed over the plaque and medal to all honorees on September 20.
The team bagged the prestigious award for saving the supermangoes of the Philippines from the dreadful mango pulp weevil (MPW).
MPWs are very destructive as it eats the mango pulp or flesh until it is rotten. Damaged fruit cannot be easily detected because it leaves the fruit peel clean unless it undergoes quarantine treatment protocol.
With the vision in mind to help the country, DA and PNRI had a collaborative research on formulating the protocol treatment.
The DA’s MWRT in the leadership of Dr. Lorenzana was able to develop the mass rearing method (MRM) that made them transport more than 12, 000 infested mangoes from Palawan to the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) in Quezon City for irradiation research.
Although the transportation was a risky thing to do for it might spread in other places, DA’s MWRT was able to successfully and carefully transport the infested fruits through the MRM.
Because of this, the PNRI was able to develop the quarantine phytosanitary treatment protocol against the dreadful MPW that involves a dose of radiation just right enough for the thin skin of the Philippine mangoes.
In fact, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recognized the protocol and treatment thus, including it in their Plant and Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual which will be used in all countries where MPW is present.
Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award is given to groups or individuals who have exceptional or extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had a nationwide impact on public interest, security, and patrimony. Other awards are Dangal ng Bayan Award and CSC Pag-asa Award.
