
20 August, 2024
A 7-member delegation led by Dr. Wilfredo A. Dumale, Jr., President of the Nueva Vizcaya State University, the Philippines, visited Japan from August 19 to 23. During their stay in Japan, the group visited the Gotemba City Hall, Shizuoka Prefecture, and met with Mr. Masami Katsumata, City Mayor, on August 20.
The Province of Nueva Vizcaya, located in the Cagayan Valley Region of Northern Luzon Island, is referred to as the “Citrus Capital of the Philippines”. The Province of Nueva Vizcaya accounts for 43% of the total citrus production in the Philippines (60,300 tons per year) and covers an area of 318 square kilometers under cultivation.
The full-fledged citrus cultivation in the province began in 1981 when the late Katsumi Suzuki, former mayor of Gotemba City, and others donated seedlings of Shizuoka’s famous Onshu mandarin oranges. In February of the same year, immediately after retiring as mayor of Gotemba City, Mr. Suzuki participated in a tree-planting forum held in Nueva Vizcaya as the head of OISCA’s Shizuoka Branch inspection team, promoted friendship, and donated 50 seedlings of Onshu mandarin oranges. Local residents, in addition to promoting planting, branching and selecting suitable areas for cultivation, worked hard to improve agricultural techniques and cultivate other varieties of citrus fruits under the guidance of OISCA, creating a major production area for mandarin oranges and other citrus fruits.
Dr. Dumale, in the meeting with Mayor Katsumata at Gotemba City Hall, expressed his gratitude for Nueva Vizcaya becoming a major citrus producer after almost 40 years. The president said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to create a catalyst for the development of the province. We hope to further expand the cultivation of citrus fruits,” adding that they plan to learn Japanese citrus processing techniques.
Mayor Katsumata stated that he was glad that “you all kept your gratitude and visited us,” and hoped that “we will deepen our ties in the future through agriculture and industry.”
The Nueva Vizcaya State University delegation was accompanied by Mr. Yasuaki Nagaishi, Secretary General, and other officials of OISCA.
After visiting City Hall, the group toured Mr. Okuyama’s tangerine farm in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City. In addition, they visited Mie University and the University of Tokyo.


