Philippines backs 10-year APEC food security roadmap
The Philippines has thrown full support behind Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation 10-year food security roadmap, according to the Department of Agriculture......»»
Asian execs bare progress roadmap
Revitalizing traditional Asian companies to adopt to the digitalization wave is the biggest challenge faced by top regional executives. Asian business leaders plotted yesterday the precarious path of the region’s economy through their individual organizations in the annual Forbes Global CEO Conference in Singapore. Sabin M. Aboitiz, president and CEO, Aboitiz Group said: “We are transforming a 100-year-old company to a 25-year-old athlete.” “Thinking as a startup but not forgetting our legacies,” was how he described the transformation of the Aboitiz group. “And at the heart and soul of everything is people,” he indicated. Known for his passion for people and innovation, he is currently leading the Aboitiz Group on a “Great Transformation” towards becoming the first techglomerate in the country. The Aboitiz Group is one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines with interests in energy, banking, food, real estate, infrastructure, construction, technologies, data science and artificial intelligence. True industrialist Outside the Aboitiz Group, Sabin holds positions in various business and socio-civic organizations including Lead Strategic Convener of the Private Sector Advisory Council to the government, co-chairperson of the Sustainable Growth Working Group in the APEC Business Advisory Council of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, member of the United Nations Global Compact Network Philippines Board of Trustees, and Steward of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism. According to Forbes, Sabin’s creative and resourceful approach to employee engagement has earned him the Philippine Quill Award of Excellence for Communication Management, and his commitment to sustainability has led the Aboitiz Group to the frontlines of renewable energy in the country. In its 21st year, the annual conference convened CEOs, tycoons, entrepreneurs, investors and thought leaders to discuss key issues of global concern and to build new partnerships, according to Forbes. The business bible said it takes boldness and vision to pilot an enterprise as the global business scene is transformed by new realities. Valuable perspective “The view from the top provides some perspective, but the rest of the crew must be motivated to embrace change as well,” it added. “Leadership is about appreciating the perspective of all your stakeholders, and I think that’s what politics teaches you,” according to Binod K. Chaudhary, chairperson of CG Corp. Global, said during the Captains Courageous session. The post Asian execs bare progress roadmap appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz tackles climate risk issues at ABAC meeting
The APEC Business Advisory Council III meeting is in full swing, with business leaders from 21 APEC economies engaging in dialogue and discussion to refine recommendations for sustainable and inclusive growth in the region. The 29 July Sustainable Growth Working Group meeting focused on addressing climate change, ensuring energy security and sustainability, and fostering sustainable food systems. Work program priorities are ultimately aligned with the 2023 ABAC theme Equity. Sustainability. Opportunity. which highlights the evolving landscape of environment, social, and governance investing. As vice chair of the SGWG, Aboitiz Group president and chief executive officer and ABAC PH member Sabin M. Aboitiz gave presentations that tackled climate risk issues including the democratization of climate risk information and decarbonization possibilities through nuclear technology. These will inform further discussions amongst the SGWG as they craft the policy recommendations that will formally be shared with APEC leaders later this year. Progress report In his first presentation, Aboitiz shared the progress report on the Climate Risk Scenarios Project. “We proposed the Climate Risk Scenarios Project in order to help economies build long-term climate resilience and fortify investment decisions by using a climate lens. We recognized that acquisition of important data related to climate risks remains limited and very expensive,” Aboitiz said. “The objective of this project is to provide both the public and private sectors with a free platform that contains all the necessary data, methodologies, and policies needed to better understand and manage climate risks,” he continued. By coming together to share and exchange information and knowledge, information gaps between economies can be addressed. With nine economies volunteering for the initial assessment, the final Climate Risk and Assessment Report will be presented at ABAC IV in November of this year. Exploring nuclear energy This was followed by a presentation on the ABAC Experts Roundtable on Exploring Nuclear Energy and Emerging Technologies in APEC. The roundtable discussion, which was virtually held on 30 June, is part of the ongoing developments of ABAC SGWG exploration of nuclear energy and small modular reactors as viable zero-carbon sources. The discussions echo the sentiments of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as shared in his remarks during the Opening Ceremony of ABAC III on Friday, 28 July. “The government and business sector must come together to identify practical, pragmatic, and promising solutions to sustainably address pressing issues like energy insecurity, the triple threat of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss,” President Marcos said. RE top in the agenda Striking a balance between being prescriptive and affording, especially developing economies with policy space, we can pursue innovative technologies and approaches; for example, in the exploration of nuclear energy and small modular reactors as viable options for low- or zero-carbon energy sources. In the Philippines, we have identified the use of renewable energy as the top of our climate agenda and we need all the support of the business sector to see this through fruition,” the President added. As the Aboitiz Group undergoes its Great Transformation to become the Philippines’ first techglomerate, it is embracing technology and a renewed entrepreneurial mindset to tackle the challenges faced by the communities it serves. Aboitiz’s regional involvement in advocating and achieving sustainable growth through ABAC is part of its wider dedication to using its expertise and experience to make a positive impact on the world. The post Aboitiz tackles climate risk issues at ABAC meeting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Moody’s: Philippines highly exposed to food security risks
Food security risks will likely remain elevated in Asia-Pacific even if prices of food ease this year, with the Philippines among the most exposed to shocks and risks in the region, Moody’s Investors Service said......»»
British Chamber hosts year-end gathering on UK-PH meat trade, discusses food security and inflation
On Nov. 30, 2023, Chris Nelson, British Chamber of Commerce Philippines executive director/trustee highlighted the Chamber’s consistent support and advocacy on ensuring food security and boosting trade and investments in the country by putting emphasis on the UK-PH meat trade and successfully celebrating its Philippine-British Meat Trade Mission Year-end Gathering at One World Butchers, Makati City......»»
PBBM wants agenda to address global challenges as he signs UNSDCF
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for a "transformative agenda" to address global challenges and bridge divides as he signed a new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework on Tuesday. The UNSDCF is a five-year plan to guide the UN's development activities in the Philippines from 2024 to 2028. It is aligned with the Philippine government's eight-point socio-economic agenda, the Philippine Development Plan, and Ambisyon Natin. In his speech at the signing ceremony in Malacañan, Marcos said that the UNSDCF is "oriented to support Philippine government policies and priorities embodied in the eight-point socio-economic agenda, the Philippine development plan, and Ambisyon Natin." He added that the UNSDCF "enjoins us and agencies in the government's determined pursuit of the highest aspirations of our people." Marcos said that the Philippines looks forward to "vigorous engagements and key issues that bear on the future of our communities, including food security, education, climate action, decent work, digital transformation, and disaster risk reduction." He also invited new approaches to help promote innovation driven by climate-smart and sustainable growth at all levels. Marcos said that the Philippines is also fostering access to green financing, lasting peace, and better public services across the archipelago. "With the UN delivering as one fully cognizant of the Philippine needs and context and the voices of its partners including civil society, our partnership can be a catalyst for the accomplishment of our shared goals in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," he said. Marcos also noted that the UNSDCF is among the first of its kind under the reformed UN development system. "Our collaboration will showcase the best and finest the UN development system can offer the world with programs that provide solutions and a far-reaching impact and provide good models of co-ownership, transparency, and accountability," he said. Marcos said that the UNSDCF brings with it not only the legacies of the Philippines' constructive and long-standing engagement with the UN, but also signifies the country's role in shaping more inclusive and effective multilateral institutions that embrace and bring tangible results to all. He added that the UNSDCF also acknowledges how the Philippines' best practices and experience can help the achievement of the SDG agenda elsewhere through South-South cooperation platforms. Marcos said that the UN recognizes that peacebuilding milestones in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao offer valuable insight for peacemaking across the world. He added that the Philippines' advocacies in the Indo-Pacific and in the global arena for the rule of law and a peaceful settlement of disputes also provide opportunities for a more substantive engagement with the UN. "These noble aspects of the UNSDCF show how our partnership has evolved. It is now infused with a more mature-looking synergy of efforts serving the interests of both the Philippines and the United Nations as we work for a safer and more prosperous world," Marcos said. He added that it is "truly fitting that we embark on this new journey together as we celebrate the founding of the UN 78 years ago." "This daunting and profound enterprise of making our collaboration deliver meaningful change and transformation on the ground lies before us," Marcos said. "I look forward to hearing many more success stories in the Philippines-UN partnership under this cooperation framework," Marcos added......»»
Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility
There is something quite riveting about Ana Margarita “Ginggay” Hontiveros-Malvar. Her gaze direct, her rhetoric fluid, she shares stories of immersing in conflict areas, of being in Leyte post-“Yolanda” and in Marawi post-violence, and within the same conversation, of her corporate hat within the “power, banking, food, land and infrastructure sectors.” Not so much as a vein mars her refined features. If not for those eyes, which reveal a depth of thought and feeling, hers would likely be a face some might take as just another classic beauty. Then again, her relationship with similarly strong-minded women cannot be discounted. She says, from the get-go, that she would rather not talk about herself or her sisters (Risa, the senator, and Pia, the broadcast news personality). Unlike them, she took the private route, but now unwittingly finds herself in the limelight. The Aboitiz Group, for which she handles a vital role, has many exciting things to share, Ginggay says. Smiling, she proceeds to rattle off some of these pillars — in education (“to create future leaders” who are solutions-oriented), in climate action and in enterprise and jobs. “For over 35 years, we’ve delivered probably over 5,000 CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects, spread over all the business units all over the Philippines. We’ve partnered with something like 600,000 individuals and organizations and we’ve invested the amount of P5.1 billion in all these different programs. We’re trying now to reevaluate what it is that’s next for Aboitiz Foundation, and then how we can serve our stakeholders better, and what are some of the things that we want to scale. Maybe to create a bigger impact in the country, help the country more, I think is what we want to do.” In the pipeline toward this goal of creating a bigger impact on development, Aboitiz Foundation is seeking more collaboration — “more conversations between organizations that are doing a lot of work already here in the country, and probably having a stronger voice and then putting that voice out there,” she enthuses. Clearly, Ginggay is in her element in the world she inhabits — at the heart of an “old legacy conglomerate,” her words, that now sees the need to transform along with the climactic times. “I lead a department called Reputation Management. We cover brands, media, corporate communications, sustainability — the ESG (environmental, social and governance) journey for the Aboitiz Group. We provide strategy, direction, governance and then very recently, just this year, we have our CSR arm which is called Aboitiz Foundation. It was recently also placed under us. Because at the end of the day, Aboitiz Foundation is like the big ‘S’ in our ESG — it’s really all about the social impact, the social good that we want to continue,” Ginggay tells the DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview on Pairfect. Ginggay is currently vice president for Reputation Management and Sustainability at Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., a holding company of the Aboitiz Group. For the Aboitiz Foundation, meanwhile, she works to help “scale its impactful programs for systemic change.” The mother of two is also communications lead for the Philippines’ Private Sector Advisory Council and team leader for APEC Business Advisory Council, which are areas where the visionary leader, Aboitiz Group chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz, holds key roles. Grateful her children are adults now, Ginggay keeps her nurturing side on overdrive with her current responsibilities. “Aboitiz is a group,” she emphasizes. “And as a family of organizations, our priority has always been about people. That’s always been our passion, whether it’s the well-being of our own employees or the well-being of communities where we have our businesses. It’s really always been about people. “We don’t feel it’s right that a business does well and then the community that it’s in doesn’t. It cannot be like that — it has to go hand in hand. So, we’ve always been like that. Very people-centric. I think what we’re trying to change now in our transformation or evolution is to see how can we use more of technology and innovation and balance it with our people-centric approach. So maybe we can be a little bit faster, be better, be more data-driven in the kinds of things that we’re doing,” she says. And has her heart always been in this kind of work — one she freely admits is demanding and sometimes even emotion-driven? “My dad was pretty laidback. And he usually let us do what we want to do as long as you know, like, please do well in school, and things like that,” Ginggay recalls. “My mom was very attentive to us and she just wanted to make sure that aside from doing well in studies, you also had to do well in something else. And then, very ingrained, I think, in our DNA, I think as a family also, is that aspect of service, whether it’s public service, or you know, just service in general — whether it’s to your community or to your family, or your immediate set of, I suppose, stakeholders. So, it’s almost been like part of my DNA or something like that, or probably my character as well.” With so much on her plate, and a daily grind that consists of steering various teams to ensure the conglomerate is moving toward its goals smoothly, Ginggay makes sure she takes time — even just 30 minutes a day, she says — disconnecting from it all and connecting with herself. “Our days are very fast — they are jam-packed with schedules, meetings, a lot of stakeholder engagement activities,” she says. “There’s a lot of collaboration also that goes on between our team and the rest of the business units in the Aboitiz Group, and then a lot of meetings as well with the board just to check in on directions and things like that. It’s very fast-paced. It’s very demanding. It takes a lot of time and I think a lot of commitment… and this is what I see from all our team leaders and team members — people are really passionate about what they do. I think that’s important.” For Ginggay, certainly, such passion is necessary to lead the company toward its goals including “delivering on communications and brand that are integral to the transformation of the group into the Philippines’ first techglomerate.” Techglomerate, she explains, “is a dream in Aboitiz Group, something that we have really been working hard on for the past few years. We kind of coined the term from ‘technology’ and ‘conglomerate,’ putting it together — and it is really about trying to be more technologically advanced but we also want to incubate exciting businesses which are more in the techspace or, say, data science. To incubate all these new companies and hopefully lead in certain industries… and I think at the end of the day we realized we have a much greater responsibility to the country.” And what’s next? “We realized that to stay ahead, we also need to transform… and I suppose that transformation should happen first and foremost at the level of the person. We’re also really focused on building a new kind of culture for the Aboitiz Group, still very much rooted in our core values of responsibility, innovation, teamwork, integrity. But now, probably trying to imbibe more of the behaviors like being more entrepreneurial, trying to be more articulate, being better storytellers, being more open to new things, being more data-driven in our decisions, you know, and a lot of other things that we’re trying to do in terms of helping to develop this new culture.” In her capacity as first vice president at Aboitiz, as well as in her other roles — senior adviser for Agripreneurship at Go Negosyo, for example — Ginggay keeps her “eye on the prize” no matter what challenges come along. This “multi-disciplined, results-oriented and multi-awarded leader,” as she is described in the Women of the Future, may prefer to keep herself below the radar, but Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar will certainly not stay unnoticed. The post Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Approvals drop
Double-digit drops were seen in the trust and approval ratings of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, as published by Pulse Asia. These numbers may have been normal for certain officials of past administrations, but for Marcos and Duterte, these figures could be unsettling. We must be reminded that our top officials were elected by the majority of the voting public in a virtual landslide against their competition. Further, this steep decline was not realized by our previous populist president. Thus, this should be taken seriously by our leaders. President Marcos Jr. downplayed the decline, saying he was “not surprised” by it. He correctly pointed out that among the reasons for the drop would be the government’s failure to lower the price of rice — a campaign promise often repeated. Another reason could be his concurrent holding of the Agriculture Secretary position, which is a delicate Cabinet post since it relates directly to bringing food to the table of every Filipino. Rice matters in the Filipino household. The United States Department of Agriculture reported that the Philippines is now the world’s top rice importer, overtaking China. According to its report titled “Grain: World Markets and Trade,” the USDA projected that the Philippines would reach 3.8 million metric tons of rice imports for the marketing year 2023-2024, compared to China’s decreased projection of 3.5 million MT. This is a sad statistic, considering the Philippines used to be known as a leading rice producer, even the go-to country for our neighbors to learn about rice production. Our Banaue Rice Terraces is a heritage and tourist site that may very well belong in a museum since rice irrigation may be a thing of the past. Food security was a campaign promise that should be endeavored to be achieved. There is no rice crisis because of the incessant importation of rice by prominent businessmen, but it has become difficult to encourage other investors to put their capital into rice farming. The government should provide the answer by incentivizing farmers and businesses to invest in rice farming, but all this is easier said than done. As for our Vice President, her ratings drop should be related to the controversial confidential and intelligence funds she defended heavily in the budget hearings. I cannot fathom a worthy explanation for why the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education should have P650 million in these funds without proper accounting and explanation. As for the reported realignment of these funds by the House of Representatives to agencies tasked with the protection of our national sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, we are still waiting to see if this will happen after it hurdles the Senate and is later signed by the President. The ratings drop may be ignored, but it’s continuing cannot be risked. The ratings can be expected to rise, especially if the surveys are taken during the Christmas season when the Filipino nation becomes forgiving. The leadership should take concrete action on how to cause an uptick, such as by providing concrete solutions to the promises made during the campaign. If something can be learned from former President Rodrigo Duterte, it would help to be very visible locally to show your genuine and sincere compassion and empathy for your countrymen. But as I have written before, it is unfair to compare two leaders with varying styles. Let’s trust our President, and he has the privilege of time to make a huge turnaround. For comments, email him at darren.dejesus@gmail.com. The post Approvals drop appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DBP backs logistics action plan
State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines is prepared to extend the needed technical and financial assistance to strategic initiatives that would ensure the successful implementation of the Marcos administration’s three-year logistics master plan aimed at reducing the cost of commodities particularly food, a top official said......»»
Marcos discusses WPS issue with French President Macron
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the security issues facing the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea earlier this week, Malacañang said on Thursday. In a statement, Marcos told Marcon in a telephone call on Wednesday that the Philippines is exerting all its efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region. “But may I thank France for all the support that you have given us in terms of our shared values, in terms of following the international law, especially (the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and it has been of great help the messages of support and even when you sent French vessels to come and patrol. So I have thank you, Mr. President, and France,” Marcos said. Marcos said that the Philippines and France had just celebrated the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship, recalling their fruitful meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Bangkok last year. Marcos said the Philippines and France are taking their discussions seriously to ensure a favorable outcome for the two countries. “This is all the product of our meetings in Bangkok, and I am very happy that … Well, we have been working assiduously trying to make sure that what we discussed we follow up and we come to a good conclusion,” Marcos said. While everything is still under discussion, President Marcos said the Philippines will make close diplomatic contact through French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel, who presented her credentials on 20 September. Meanwhile, Marcon told Marcos that French ministers will visit the Philippines soon. President Marcos replied to Macron that they could start working during the visit of the French ministers on what had been discussed during the 10th Philippine-France Joint Economic Meeting last June. Marcos then extended the invitation to the French President to visit the Philippines whenever he made a state visit to Asia. “We can work on what was just held last June, the 10th Philippine-France Joint Economic Committee Meeting. And many of the businessmen from France were able to speak to our ministers and some of the local businessmen as well,” Marcos told President Macron. "(If) your ministers will come to visit the Philippines then that will be the next step from that beginning,” the chief executive added, as he expressed his gratitude for the long-standing bilateral ties between the Philippines and France. The post Marcos discusses WPS issue with French President Macron appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DBP backs NG’s logistics action plan
State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is prepared to extend the needed technical and financial assistance to strategic initiatives that would ensure the successful implementation of the Marcos administration’s three-year logistics master plan aimed at reducing the cost of commodities particularly food, a top official said. DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Michael O. De Jesus said the bank would work closely with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, and other government agencies and key stakeholders to modernize the food distribution system and storage and to address prevailing supply chain gaps. “DBP is one with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s goal of ensuring reliable food supply at reasonable prices for all Filipinos,” De Jesus said. “DBP will leverage on its experience and financial capability to support key programs to support this goal.” DBP is the eighth largest bank in the country in terms of assets and provides strategic financing support to critical economic sectors such as infrastructure and logistics, micro, small and medium enterprises, social services, and the environment. In August this year, President Marcos, Jr. approved the country’s three-year food logistics action agenda aimed at promoting food availability, accessibility, and affordability through strategies that would modernize the country’s food distribution system, increase investments in logistics infrastructure, and address other supply chain gaps. De Jesus said that as of the end of the first half of 2023, DBP has allocated P281.6 billion for projects under the infrastructure and logistics sector, representing 55.5 percent of its total loan to borrowers amounting to P506.9-billion. He said total loan releases to the sector have reached P45.5 billion while deals in the pipeline are around P18.5 billion for the period covering January to June this year. "As of July this year, DBP has approved a total of P25.55-billion in loans for 189 borrowers nationwide under the auspices of the Bank’s Connecting Rural Urban Intermodal Systems Efficiently (CRUISE) program, which serves as our flagship facility for transport infrastructure and logistics sector,” De Jesus said. The post DBP backs NG’s logistics action plan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Zubiri: Coral destruction in WPS a global food security threat
The destruction of the marine ecosystem in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in the Escoda (Sabina) and Rozul (Iroquois) Reefs, threatens global food security, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri warned. “This is a wanton destruction of our future food security areas. I am really angry with what they are doing,” Zubiri said in a statement. He made the comment following the report of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command of missing and destroyed corals along Rozul Reef. The discovery of damaged corals came after the sightings of Chinese maritime militia vessels in the area. The report was confirmed by the Philippine Coast Guard, which found similar observations on the seabed of Escoda Reef, also in the West Philippine Sea. According to Zubiri, the destruction of marine ecosystems will have global consequences. “This is not a destruction only on the Philippine side, but for the whole world. It’s for the whole world because the species of fish that breed there are not only being harvested by Filipino fishermen, but also harvested by Malaysian fishermen, Vietnamese fishermen, even Chinese fishermen,” he pointed out. “So it is for the good of the world if our coral reefs are protected. That’s why I’m really very mad,” he added. He also made an appeal to the Chinese Embassy in Manila to “tell their militia vessels to put a stop on this wanton destruction.” ‘Marine ranger stations’ To safeguard the country’s marine resources in the West Philippine Sea, the Senate chief said the upper chamber would propose a P600 million budget to build marine ranger stations across the country. “We agreed to it already. We already spoke to Senator Sonny Angara. The P600 million is to build marine ranger stations in different parts of the Philippines, including the West Philippine Sea,” he said. He noted that the upper chamber is working closely with the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources in setting up marine ranger stations in key coastal areas nationwide. Aside from budget allocations for the establishment of marine ranger stations, Zubiri also vowed to fight for bigger allotments for the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy in the national budget for 2024 to boost their capabilities to protect and monitor the country’s maritime zones. “This budget is a critical budget. This is the time that we have to put our money where our mouth is. This is the time that we need to increase the budget for ships, patrol crafts, and marine research centers,” he said. Under the proposed P5.768-trillion National Expenditure Plan for 2024, the PCG has been allocated with P24.014 billion, an increase of nearly 10 percent from its allotment of P21.92 billion this year. On the other hand, P40.97 billion has been set aside for the Navy, up from its current budget of P34.98 billion. The post Zubiri: Coral destruction in WPS a global food security threat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Online agri trading hub connects farmers to more businesses
The United States government, through the US Agency for International Development and in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal, launched on 31 August a first-of-its-kind e-commerce platform to expand the market reach of Luzon-based farmer-traders and strengthen the Philippines’ agricultural supply chain. The NVAT Fresh Online Platform (NVATFresh.com) directly managed and operated by the Luzon-based agricultural hub, is a business-to-business online platform where farmers can list their produce for large enterprises such as supermarkets, food processing companies and restaurant chains. Through the platform, farmers can leverage competitive pricing, secure consistent income, reduce food wastage and ensure the delivery of fresh, affordable produce straight to businesses and consumers. Through its five-year P1 billion ($18 million) Strengthening Private Enterprises for the Digital Economy project, USAID provided technical assistance, onboarding support and training for NVAT and its stakeholders who use the platform. In its initial phase, NVAT Fresh Online is projected to facilitate the sale of 5,000 tons of produce, accounting for three percent of NVAT’s total volume. Future estimates anticipate sales surging to roughly 20,000 tons, generating P500 million ($8.8 million) by its fifth operational year. In her remarks, USAID Philippines deputy mission director Rebekah Eubanks emphasized the crucial role that farmers play in achieving inclusive and resilient economic growth. “As your partner in prosperity, the United States remains committed to supporting the Philippines in advancing digitalization to help improve the lives of farmers and agricultural traders, and more importantly, enhance the country’s food security,” Eubanks said. “Thank you, USAID, for heeding our call. To say that NVAT is a trailblazer is an understatement. The birth of NVAT Fresh is a significant accomplishment,” said DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual in remarks delivered by DTI Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Ana Carolina Sanchez. Meanwhile, Department of Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban highlighted the societal impact of platforms like NVAT Fresh Online on farmers. The post Online agri trading hub connects farmers to more businesses appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MAP backs tech-voc courses, food schemes
The government and the private sector should encourage the setting up of more technical-vocational education providers and focus on nutrition programs for mothers to quickly uplift the lives of the poor and boost the national economy. Lawyer Benedicta Du-Baladad, president of the Management Association of the Philippines, urged the government and businesses to expand partnerships with technical-vocational education providers in communities nationwide to offer job opportunities to Filipinos, especially the poor, who have no ambitions to pursue college studies. “We’re looking at how we can scale up technical-vocational education because there are many parents who are just waiting for their kids to graduate so they can help their families. And many are not capable of going to college so they are just happy to be employed,” Du-Baladad said Wednesday on the Daily Tribune’s show Straight Talk. Short-term courses preferred However, she said the educators should promote short-term courses still related to higher knowledge and skill development to make graduates adaptive to the needs of employers amid the rapid technological advancements globally. Du-Baladad said the review of the K-12 program of the Department of Education is critical in enabling Filipinos to be employed faster, as officials are considering designing two-year tracks for high school students to immediately gain industry-specific knowledge and skills without entering college. “K-12 was made so graduates can be readily employable by businesses. But data show only four percent of them are picked up by businesses. Majority of the rest work in their communities as masseurs or hairstylists,” she said. The post MAP backs tech-voc courses, food schemes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go urges gov’t to support small farmers amid inflation
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go calls on the government to provide more support to small farmers as they are the backbone of the nation's economy and play a crucial role in maintaining the country's food security. Go, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, has been supportive of legislative efforts aimed at uplifting the lives of Filipino farmers, particularly in these challenging economic times. He contributed to the passage of Republic Act No. 11953, known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which he co-sponsored and co-authored in the Senate. This landmark legislation condones loans, including interests, penalties, and surcharges, incurred by agrarian reform beneficiaries. By doing so, it aims to alleviate the financial burdens faced by over 600,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries across the Philippines, thereby enhancing their economic resilience. In addition to this, Go also authored and co-sponsored RA 11960 or the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Act. This law decentralizes economic opportunities by empowering each town and province to develop and promote its unique products. By doing so, it not only fosters community-led innovation but also bridges the urban-rural economic divide, providing small farmers with more avenues to market their produce. Go also emphasized the importance of encouraging end users to directly purchase from producers. This not only helps the farmers but also ensures that consumers get fresh and affordable produce. "It's not only about us not needing to import from other countries. It's about recognizing and supporting our local farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries,” Go added. As the nation navigates through economic challenges, Go reiterated that the most important thing is that no one goes hungry. "Dapat po, walang magutom. Importante po dito tiyan ng bawat Pilipino," he said. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the inflation rate rose to 5.3 percent in August, up from 4.7 percent in July. The increase in inflation was primarily due to the faster rise in prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages. Specifically, inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages accelerated to 8.1 percent in August. The year-on-year growth rate for rice prices rose to 8.7 percent from 4.2 percent. The government has implemented a cap on rice prices to reduce costs and penalize hoarding, although this measure has sparked discussions about its impact on both farmers and consumers. The post Bong Go urges gov’t to support small farmers amid inflation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Vietnam, Philippines to sign rice trade agreement
Vietnam and the Philippines agreed to sign an agreement on rice imports to guarantee food security, Hanoi said Thursday, after prices of the world staple soared to decade highs last month. The announcement came after a meeting between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Indonesia this week. "The two sides agreed to soon discuss and sign an inter-governmental agreement on rice trade cooperation to together ensure objectives on food security amidst complicated developments in the recent global food supply chain," a statement on Vietnam's official government website said Thursday. The agreement would be for five years and would see Vietnam export rice to the Philippines, according to a statement from the Philippine presidential palace. Marcos said the agreement "would stabilize the rice supply and pricing in the Philippines amid the current volatility", the statement added. Rice is a basic staple in the country of 110 million people. But the Philippines cannot produce enough for itself and has been one of the world's top importers of the grain. In July, India, the world's biggest rice exporter, banned some overseas rice sales to calm rising prices at home. Global prices soared to their highest levels in nearly 15 years last month. In the first eight months of the year, Vietnam exported nearly 5.9 million tons of rice, earning $3.2 billion, up 37 percent year-on-year, according to Vietnam's general statistics office. The post Vietnam, Philippines to sign rice trade agreement appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ASEAN summit ‘productive’, biz meetings net $22M investment pledges: Marcos
JAKARTA, Indonesia – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit demonstrated the commitment of countries in the region to regional cooperation and multilateralism. In his latest YouTube vlog on Thursday, Marcos said that the summit was a productive one, and that he was able to promote and highlight key interests of ASEAN. He said these interests include food and energy security, security, migrant workers protection, climate change, and digital transformation. "I was able to participate in 12-leaders level meetings, including with Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States and the United Nations," Marcos said. "In these meetings, I promoted and highlighted key interests of ASEAN, such as food and energy, security, migrant workers protection, climate change and digital transformation --- issues that are of strategic importance to the Philippines," he added. Marcos also said that he had a productive meeting with the President of the World Bank Group, where they discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in areas such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable development. On the sidelines of the summit, Marcos met with top executives of select Indonesian companies who are looking at the Philippines to expand their presence further. He said that these meetings resulted in $22 million in investment commitments in areas crucial for the Philippines' economic recovery efforts, such as agriculture and the digital economy. Marcos also witnessed the signing of the Philippine-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which he said would strengthen the Philippines' bilateral trade and investment relations with South Korea. "The FTA will generate jobs and contribute to the Philippine value proposition as an ideal regional hub for smart, sustainable investment," Marcos said. Marcos reiterated that the Philippines will chair the ASEAN in 2026 instead of 2027. He said that the Philippines stepped up to this role to ensure the continuity of its progress towards a people-oriented, people-centered, inclusive, and resilient ASEAN community. He also thanked and congratulated Indonesian President Joko Widodo for "his very able stewardship" as chair of ASEAN this year and for making ASEAN as important as it ever has been. "I also thank them for the very warm hospitality of the Philippine delegation, And I look forward to able leadership of Lao PDR when they host the ASEAN in 2025," he said. The post ASEAN summit ‘productive’, biz meetings net $22M investment pledges: Marcos appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl to rely on rice imports from Vietnam, Cambodia
JAKARTA, Indonesia – The Philippines and Vietnam are working on a 5-year agreement to improve rice output and food security in the two Southeast Asian nations, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said on Thursday. During their meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit, the Vietnamese leader told Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that his country is ready to help the Philippines obtain food security and boost rice production. "Our two countries will conclude an inter-government agreement on rice trade so that our rice export to the Philippines will ensure food security in the Philippines," he told Marcos Jr. "We look forward to having a stable framework of cooperation on rice trade for a long period of at least (five) years," the Vietnamese official added. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh then said that Vietnam "will ensure" its rice production and told Marcos that the Philippines can also ensure imports from its neighboring country. Marcos Jr. then noted that his Vietnamese counterpart was ready to let the Philippines import rice as the Philippine leader acknowledged that food supply is a "main issue" in the Philippines. "In Asia, food supply is very much determined by rice and the prices," Marcos said. The Philippine president then expressed his optimism that both his country and Vietnam would have "very fruitful" arrangements. Rice imports from Cambodia In a separate bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Hun Manet here in Jakarta, Marcos opened up the possibility of sourcing rice from Cambodia to the Philippines. Marcos then asked for Cambodia's support in making things easier for rice importers so that there would be a steady rice supply after typhoons hurt rice production in the Philippines. Initially, business-to-business sales deals between Cambodian-based firm Khmer Foods company and rice importers in the Philippines resulted in the export to the Philippines of about 2,500 tons of rice in May this year. This was the first time the Philippines is importing a significant tonnage of rice from Cambodia after the passage of the Rice Tariffication Law in 2019, which liberalized rice trade in the Philippines and allowed private entities, instead of the government, to import rice from any country, subject to compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary requirements and import duties. Cambodian officials say that by 2024, they want to have a 1 percent share of the imported rice market in the Philippines. They have urged stakeholders to keep exporting rice to the Philippines and even increase the amount Cambodians export. *Aviation* With regard to civil aviation cooperation, both countries agreed to expand the direct flights between the Philippines and Cambodia given the improvements in the COVID-19 situation and easing of restrictions. “…I shall, as my homework when I get back, look into the possibility of our airline increasing the number of flights to other destinations in Cambodia that we would like to go to. This is something that goes both ways,” the President also said. The President also mentioned the cultural, educational, and people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and Cambodia that could be enhanced further. “I’m very proud of our overseas Filipino workers and the teachers who have gone abroad and places. Many who’ve come from my part of the country and we have been able to assist our allies and our partners in terms of exchange of culture and the like,” Marcos said. The post Phl to rely on rice imports from Vietnam, Cambodia appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BBM, hoarders in test of wills over price cap
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. left yesterday for Indonesia, but not before taking a potshot at smugglers and hoarders over the spiraling price of rice that necessitated his issuance of a price cap on the staple grain. Marcos in his departure speech said that even as he attends the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, controlling the rice price surge will be top of mind. Early in his presidency, Marcos said he would work to bring down the price of rice to P20 a kilo, half of the P41 to P45 per kilo price ceiling he imposed via Executive Order 39, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, last Thursday. The President was adamant that there is no valid reason rice should be selling for upwards of P50 per kilo, considering that data from the Department of Agriculture showed that with the coming rice harvest and imports, there’ll be enough rice buffer stocks to last the year. “Based on our studies, the only reason for this is that there are smugglers and hoarders,” he said in Filipino. The price cap — P41 per kilo for regular-milled rice and P45/kilo for the well-milled variety — will be implemented starting today, 5 September. Rice retailers across the nation were one in saying that they could not possibly sell at below their purchase price despite the government’s threat to penalize violators of EO 39. Monitoring teams from the DA and the trade, local government and justice departments, along with those from local government units, will go around wet markets and supermarkets to ensure compliance with the price cap. Temporary measure Earlier, Marcos tried to assure traders and the public that the price ceiling would be temporary while waiting for local farmers to harvest their palay. “I need to explain that this is only temporary. It won’t last long. We are harvesting rice, we are harvesting rice here in the Philippines, [until] the season is over,” he stressed. “And so when the time comes, we’ll also have imported rice. It will come in at the same time [as the local harvest]. We will take it to the market, we will let rice retailers cap their own prices,” he added. The President said he will work with ASEAN leaders during the summit to address the various challenges facing the region, including the territorial irritants in the South China Sea (see related story). As the “epicenter of growth” in Asia, ASEAN-member countries can play a big role in ensuring food security, calling for climate justice, protecting migrant workers, and fully tapping the potential of digital economies. “We will foster cooperation with these countries in areas such as trade and investment, climate action, food security, clean energy, and maritime cooperation,” Marcos said, before boarding his plane with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. Marcos said he will also take part in the ASEAN Plus 3 and East Asia summits where he will discuss developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Welcomed “ASEAN has always been closely intertwined with Philippine foreign policy,” the President said. “My administration will continue to ensure that our constructive engagements with ASEAN, our dialogue partners, and stakeholders will serve our national interest and the wellbeing of the Filipino people.” The ASEAN Summit is the second to be held in Indonesia this year after the one held in Labuan Bajo last May. House lawmakers welcomed the rice price ceiling set to be enforced today but expressed reservations, including making it more “flexible” based on prevailing regional market conditions. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said, “The situation will vary per region, so a national rice price ceiling should be made more responsive to local supply-demand dynamics.” Salceda emphasized that increasing domestic supply and diversifying importation sources like Pakistan and the United States should be the long-term solution. “We’ve seen this crisis before. We know how to deal with it. It mostly involves signaling to our world partners that we will not over-import so that they don’t anticipate and drive prices up,” Salceda said. Independent opposition lawmaker Edcel Lagman said that Marcos should have imposed the rice price cap when the commodity was being sold at P50 to P60 per kilo. Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday declared that P2 billion sourced from this year’s budget will be earmarked to aid rice retailers who may be affected by the price cap. @tribunephl_Lade @tribunephl_eao The post BBM, hoarders in test of wills over price cap appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos off to 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said that he will use the opportunity to advance the Philippines' priorities in the upcoming 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, and work with other member states to address the region's challenges. In his departure speech, Marcos highlighted the importance of ASEAN as an "epicenter of growth" and said that he would work to deepen the region's partnerships with other countries. “I will highlight our advocacies in promoting a rules-based international order, including in the South China Sea; strengthening food security; calling for climate justice; tapping the potential of the digital and creative economies; protecting migrant workers in crisis situations; as well as combatting trafficking in persons," Marcos said. "We will foster cooperation with these countries in areas such as trade and investment, climate action, food security, clean energy, and maritime cooperation," he added. He will also participate in the ASEAN Plus 3 and East Asia Summits, where he will discuss the developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, and the conflict in Ukraine. "ASEAN has always been closely intertwined with Philippine foreign policy," Marcos said. "My administration will continue to ensure that our constructive engagements with ASEAN, our dialogue partners, and stakeholders, serve our national interest and the wellbeing of the Filipino people." The 43rd ASEAN Summit is the second ASEAN summit to be held in Indonesia this year. The first summit was held in Labuan Bajo last May. The upcoming 43rd summit is expected to be significantly larger compared to the previous 42nd summit. Representatives from ASEAN dialogue partners will meet in Jakarta for a series of summits throughout the week. The post Marcos off to 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P20/kilo rice aspiration
Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian made a clear admission that reducing the price of rice to P20 a kilo is not possible, but only to a lower price that is affordable. Grilled by House Deputy Minority Leader Mujiv Hataman during the deliberations on the Department of Agriculture’s 2024 budget early last week, Sebastian said, “To be honest, we [have] never discussed those things… with the President.” For ordinary Juans, the idea of cheap rice is enticing and an answered prayer but achieving the goal more than a year after it was promised is a challenge that even agriculture officials themselves find unachievable. DA Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Regulations Mercedita Sombilla was quoted as saying, “Next two years? Baka mahirap po (It might be difficult).” Even retired University of the Philippines crop science professor, Dr. Teodoro Mendoza, shared the sentiment that the P20 per kilo rice isn’t possible “unless the government subsidizes 55 percent of the market price” given current pricey agricultural inputs. All told, officials of the Department of Agriculture defending the DA’s proposed budget of P167.5 billion for 2024, after being questioned and seared, acknowledged that fulfilling President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s campaign promise to reduce the price of rice to P20 per kilo would be improbable within the next two years. Mind you, reducing rice prices is included in the roadmap but not to P20 per kilo. There is no doubt that nothing tangible backs up the P20/kilo of rice goal. It was never tackled in the DA’s meetings with the President, therefore, there is no plan to trim rice prices. In fact, local commercial rice is sold at P54-P62 per kilo for special quality, P47-P60/kilo for premium quality, P46-P57/kilo for well-milled, and P41-P55/kilo for regular milled. Imported commercial rice is priced at P52-P65/kilo for special quality, P47-P57/kilo for premium quality, and P46/kilo for well-milled. Equally concerning is the fact that the department cannot say when the price will stabilize. The P20 per kilo rice is an “aspiration” of the DA, so says Undersecretary Sebastian. Noble as it may seem, he said the DA would like to make sure farmers will benefit from any agricultural development and have a good income, but cannot provide an assurance on alleviating consumers’ financial burden. Until that P20/kilo aspiration, which often represents an idealized version of the government’s desire and ambition, becomes a powerful driving force that will motivate the agriculture department to work hard and strive for success, arresting the soaring price of the Filipino staple will continue to drag on forever. Here is an instance where aspiration does not fully match the reality that 110 million Filipinos face; when aspiration clashes with reality leading to disappointment, frustration, and a sense of unfulfilled potential. Whatever the litany of reasons our officials present for the sorry state of the rice sector, it is important to strike a balance between aspiration and reality. While it is essential to have dreams and goals that inspire and motivate us, it is also crucial to maintain a realistic perspective. It may involve acknowledging the challenges and limitations of the real world, adapting to changing circumstances, and making necessary adjustments to our aspirations when needed. “I don’t know” is a lame excuse, and so are “I cannot answer that” and “We have not figured it out.” What is important to Filipinos, for now, is to at least feel that our elected and appointed officials explore factors such as market dynamics, production costs, and policy challenges that will realize the aspiration while striving for a sustainable and equitable agricultural system that supports both farmers and consumers. We cannot afford to see more than 10.4 percent, or a third, of Filipino families experiencing involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months, in the next Social Weather Stations survey. It’s not too much to ask from officials entrusted with the country’s future and the welfare of Filipinos. The post P20/kilo rice aspiration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»