Organic farming deemed an advocacy than business

CEBU, Philippines - Despite Cebu being behind in the information and promotion of the benefits of organic products, a native of Bacolod pursued her goal of putting up an organic farm in Cebu and help in the larger distribution all throughout the province.

Abigail Salvador of Tabon Ecological Farm (Tabefa) found in Tabon, Dalaguete is a recent supplier of organic products in supermarkets and restaurants in Cebu but she said that it was not an easy business to venture into since not a lot of people knew about organic products. Also, farmers are still hesitant to shift to organic farming since it takes time for the products to grow without chemicals that are usually used.

According to her, she was interested first in organic beauty products like soaps and wanted to make her own but had no knowledge of how to make it and where to get the ingredients from.

That prompted her to visit Mantalungon, a town south of Cebu, around two years ago where she met up with a pastor that has a land in the area and where she was able to meet some farmers who had no choice but not to use chemicals anymore since they had encountered diseases already.

She shared that she wanted to help out the farmers and thought of organic farming though she had no idea about it but made researches on what to do and how much it would cost to start up an organic farm.

Salvador said that after which, she agreed to finance and buy the seeds from Manila and abroad and also pay for the labor of the farmers for 50 thousand pesos only.

“Dun nagsimula lahat,” said Salvador who at present produces up to 60 kilos of organic products to known restaurants like Gustavian and La Tegola and started producing the supermarket of Gaisano Country Mall.

She said that she has also contacted other huge supermarkets and restaurants in the city hoping to achieve her goal in helping promote to more people the benefits of shifting to organic products.

Salvador said that she sees this as part of an advocacy and not as a business since she said that it is more important to spread awareness first to the people. She stressed that Cebu has been playing poorly in terms of organic products but she aims to help in the efforts of the provincial government in promoting the organic agriculture.

She said that she commended the efforts of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in promoting organic farming where small producers like her have benefited from.

But she said that lately, people are already becoming curious of the products and have been noted in the increase in demand of her products compared to the past year.

She said that the target market for organic products are usually the class A market since it is expensive but she is hoping that this would also be supported by the other classes since the benefits it does to the body should be considered better than the price.

Salvador is also optimistic of the growth of demand of her products, which she said have had the thumbs up of Gil Carandang, president of Organic Inspectors Association of the Philippines and owner of Herbana Farmers Philippines, whom she asked advice from when she started the business.

Aside from the organic vegetables that she supplies like lettuce, cucumber and tomato, she also produces organic made beauty products and has her partner, Grace Ruperto, that supplies organic meat.

Salvador also has a store called “All Organics” in Banilad Town Center, where she will also be having a small farmers market every Saturday and one in Parkmall named “Back to the Garden

Source: The Freeman Cebu

The Persimmon

High world market prices benefit RP sugar industry

CEBU, Philippines - The growing cost of sugar in the world market is seen to benefit the decade-old sugar industry in the Philippines, saving it from becoming a “sunset” industry and become a sustainable one.

Philippine Sugar Technologists Association (Philsutech) former president Ramon Durano VI said that the industry is showing signs of bullishness as demand for locally produced sugar have increased significantly.

“The Philippine sugar industry is still not a sunset industry, it continues to thrive. In fact, there is an increase in the consumption of our domestic sugar,” Durano said.

Durano, whose family-owned company Durano and Company manages hectares of sugar farm both in Cebu and Negros, said that the high cost of imported sugar varieties, due to the decrease in production of world production of sugar caused mainly by drastic climate change, has raised the demand for Philippine sugar.

But amid the demand, he explained that the country continues to import sugar not because of shortage but to maintain prices at an “acceptable level.”

According to Durano the decrease in production of world sugar has resulted to a jump of US$0.18 centavos per pound.

The current world price for sugar is at US$0.22 centavos per pound and is forecasted to grow up to US$0.40 centavos per pound by year-end.

“This will certainly redound to the benefit of local producers,” he said, adding that along with the growing demand for domestic sugar for consumption, new classifications of sugar have been introduced, including those for biofuel.

In effect, he said sugar planters have once again capitalized on their agricultural land properties in order to plant more sugarcane.

Local planters and producers continue to look for cost-effective ways to produce sugar with the use of technology, he added.

Durano likewise assured the implementation next year of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT), which will lower the tariff on sugar importation, is not a threat to local players.

Under the GATT, the present tariff rates of Southeast Asian countries are to be changed in 2010 to give way to reduced duty rates for imported products that are categorized under the identified integration areas, including agro-based products.

“The country’s sugar industry has always been competitive, especially since the Philippine economy is now recovering from the effects of the global crisis,” Durano said.

Earlier, Alfonso A. Uy, chairman of the board and president of Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation, said the softening of the country’s economy in 2008 has led to a 20 percent drop in demand for the company’s sugar and flour produce.

Like Durano, Uy also voiced optimism the market for flour and sugar will start picking up next year, as sentiments of recovery has been floating around the country’s business sectors.

Source: The Freeman Cebu

Negotiations for "Thirsty"Dubai franchise underway

CEBU, Philippines - Homegrown fresh fruit juice chain, Thirsty Juices and Shakes will be hitting the Middle East market soon, as the Pages Holdings Inc., is now negotiating with an interested investor to set up outlets in Dubai.

Now on its 13th year in providing healthy drink options to Filipino consumers, Thirsty will start its international penetration, hopefully to start an outlet in Dubai, said Pages Holdings Inc., chairman Bunny Pages.

Pages said the company is negotiating for master-franchise agreement with an interested investor in Dubai, for the opening of several outlets there that will bring this Cebu brand to the Middle East market.

Part of the company’s initial plan, Pages said is to offer the franchise for the brand via licensing agreement that will be locked for five years.However, Pages said negotiation for this venture is still ongoing and no official or concrete deals have been signed yet.If this venture will be finalized, Thirsty will be one of the pioneer Cebu-grown brands that penetrates the Dubai market, although there are number of Cebuano entrepreneurs who are currently clinching franchise deals for Dubai ventures such as Bo’s Coffee Club, among others.

In the Philippines, Thirsty brand is present in 100 locations, 30 outlets are managed by franchisees.

Pages said, although the sales-performance of this kind of products is mostly seasonal, business is still profitable.

Pursuing the international market could mean greater risk for the brand, however, with the licensing agreement, Pages hopes that it will provide good expansion opportunity for the brand.

Source: The Freeman Cebu

Cebu exporters optimistic on recovering US demand

CEBU, Philippines - While orders, especially from United States, are slowly starting to recover, exporters are encouraged to make the production of goods at a faster rate since lead time for orders are shorter, unlike before.

PhilExport-Cebu chairman Allan Suarez made this call, while sensing the rebound of export products demand specifically from the United States, which is the largest export market for the Philippines, especially Cebu’s furniture exports.

“Local export furniture makers should be able to produce goods at a faster rate since lead time for orders are shorter compared before with buyers now keeping their inventories and volume orders low,” said Suarez.

For his part, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF) executive director Joseph Martin Borromeo said that the industry is now beginning to feel the improving conditions in the US housing industry as observed by more order inquiries from US-based clients.

“Orders for furniture pieces and home furnishings from Cebu are slowly coming in as new home sales in the US grew last July and many others are beginning to renovate their homes,” he related.

Borromeo said that general sentiment of the industry is “bullish” while furniture inventory of American retailers are about to be consumed and buyers are beginning to buy new stocks.

At present, Borromeo said that exact volumes of orders are still difficult to determine, but what is reassuring is that there has been experiencing “significant demand” for Cebu’s export products, particularly home furnishing items, fashion accessories and furniture pieces.

Department of Trade and Industry undersecretary Thomas Aquino echoed the industry players’ positive outlook on the export sector, especially in the home furnishing, saying the recession in the US has “bottomed out”.

But, Aquino lauded Cebu’s resiliency in fighting the ugly effects of the US recession to the export sector.

“Despite the crisis, Cebu exporters have grown to be even more innovative in their designs (and) we are excited to see how Cebu’s export industry will perform next year especially with the recovery of the US market,” he said.

DTI recently conducted an Exporters’ Exposition in Cebu to help exporters dispose their inventories in preparation to accommodation new orders from the US market.

Borromeo particularly lauded efforts of Government, particularly DTI’s, in setting up the Exporter’ Expo which aims to help exporters dispose of their existing inventory by selling the goods to the local market.

In the last few months, the Cebu export industry, primarily the home furnishing and fashion accessories sectors are growing at a rate of 10 percent to 15 percent in terms of order volumes.

PhilExport-Cebu on the other hand, is conducting several programs and activities to help exporters aptly prepared for the rebound phenomenon.

Source: The Freeman Cebu

Aboitiz Power introduces "Cleanergy" brand

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuano power consumers may soon be able to buy electricity source from renewable energy plants, following the introduction of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AP) “Cleanergy” brand.

“Cleanergy concretizes the company’s promise of providing better solutions for a better future. It is an energy solution that will give AP power consumers an option to reduce their carbon footprint and attain a more sustainable lifestyle,” said Erramon Aboitiz AP President and Chief Executive Officer.

However, Aboitiz said that in order for AP to sell its “Cleanergy” to customers who are looking for renewable energy sources, the company will wait for the open access power supply system to be adopted in the Philippines.

In an open access regime, large power consumers can choose their power suppliers, unlike the present system, which restricts their choice to distributors operating in their respective areas.

Aboitiz said the main purpose of the re-marketing of AP is to widen public consciousness about climate change and its adverse impact on society.

“Once the Renewable Energy Bill becomes a law, it allows end-users to tell their distribution utilities that they want to buy power from renewable energy sources,” Aboitiz said.

The “Cleanergy” may be sourced from the company’s combined 1,000-megawatt renewable energy capacity under AP’s portfolio, he added.

“We like renewable energy. We think the future of the country’s power industry is into renewable energy sources,” Aboitiz said, but acknowledged the option of providing green power is something “not readily acceptable to consumers.”

“It is feasible but it will take time for consumers to appreciate ‘green power’. In the long run, what we want to see is consumers who are willing to pay a little more for ‘green power’ and we want to be ready when the demand comes and offer it to them at the least possible cost,” he said.

Energy sourced from expensive renewable power sources, will be offered as optional product for “environmentally-friendly” consumers. Aboitiz believes that with the growing concern of global warming issues, more and more customers are demanding for it.

Besides, once the Bill will be passed into Law, consumers that are using electricity products sourced from renewable sources will be exempted from the 10 percent value added tax.

In Cebu, due to unavailability of renewable power resources, Aboitiz said the company is trying its best to limit the adverse effect of coal-fired plant, which the company is building a 246-MW power plant in Toledo, in partnership with Global Power.

“We like renewable power, but there are times that they are not available,” Aboitiz said.

However, if the open access will be implemented, Cebuano power consumers, as well as the rest of the Visayas, will be able to buy “Cleanergy” product, through an importation of power from Luzon to Cebu, Aboitiz said.

Source: The Freeman Cebu

ICT Department pushed before Arroyo term ends

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT) hopes that the bill that seeks to establish the Department of ICT will be approved before the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ends next year.

CICT commissioner Monchito B. Ibrahim said that this direction has to be implemented before the Arroyo term ends, in order to continue the projects and programs being started by the Commission.

The bill that seeks to establish the Department of ICT is still pending in the Senate, which was transmitted to the Upper House after the House of Representatives approved it August last year.

The CICT was created in 2004 as a transitory measure to a DICT (Department of ICT) but five years have passed, and this has yet to become a reality.

“Hopefully, before the end of this administration, the CICT will become a Department of ICT,” Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim said the ICT industry will expect more support from the government, in case the bid to make the Commission a Department will be pursued.

“This will put more ‘teeth’ for the government to pursue ICT programs, and put as in the same level as other developed countries,” he said.

In Asia, the Philippines is the last remaining country, of which the ICT support agency is not yet established in the ministry level.

Despite this, the Philippines is still leading in terms of ICT growth in Asia, “how much more if we become institutionalized.”

In an earlier interview with CICT secretary Ray Roxas-Chua III he expressed apprehension that the Commission would be abolished when a new President assumes office after the 2010 elections.

Roxas-Chua said that the bill that seeks to establish the Department of ICT is still pending in the Senate, which was transmitted to the Upper House after the House of Representatives approved it in August last year.

“The passage of the bill will ensure the sustainability of the CICT’s programs. While we are still hopeful that it can be passed, time is quickly running out and campaign season is just around the corner,” Roxas-Chua said.

At present the CICT functions under an executive order issued by President Arroyo.

Roxas-Chua pointed out that considering the size and importance of the ICT industry in the country, it “makes no sense” for the country to be among the four countries in Southeast Asia that do not have a department or ministry for ICT.

Aside from the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar also do not have a DICT.

If the Senate will not be able to pass the DICT bill, Roxas-Chua feared several projects of the CICT will be put on hold, or worse will not materialize.

These projects include iSchools, which aims to improve the computer literacy of high school students.

Under the program, CICT will provide all public high schools computer laboratories—equipped with computers that have Internet connections—by 2010. Priority will be given to next wave cities for the ICT industry.

Based on the CICT’s latest data, Roxas-Chua said 360 computer laboratories out of 640 laboratories have been established so far.

Another project, the eSkwela, targets out-of-school youth and adults as beneficiaries of an alternative computerized learning system. One of the pilot sites for this project is the Tejero Elementary School in Cebu City.

Likewise, Roxas-Chua is also pushing for the passage of another bill that will provide the legal and regulatory framework that will ensure data privacy and provide penalties against those who will breach data security.

If approved, the data privacy law is also expected to boost the ICT industry.

Source: The Freeman Cebu

"AbstracSIOn II" at Maribago Bluewater

Academic training has exposed Dennis ‘Sio’ Montera, initially, in creating realist-inspired nature visual artworks before he finally found his own illustrative language. On his fifth-year as an artist, he came back to Cebu City armed with a Masters degree in painting earned from University of the Philippines. Sio mounted two important solo exhibitions on abstract art at the Art Center of SM City Cebu and Bluewater Gallery of Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort. These shows received accolade from critics and collectors, alike, and brought to the community a fresh take on serious visual art. That two special occasions baptized Sio as one of the few visual artists who have taken the road less travelled – the exploration of the non-objective realm in mainstream art.

Sio, as his intimates call him, takes inspiration from the likes of Franz Kline, Robert Motherwell, Jackson Pollock, Jean Dubuffet, Cy Twombly, Jean Michel Basquiat and Antoni Tapies. He admits that Philippine artists like Nestor Vinluan, Lao Lianben, and Jose Joya joins the list of artists that stirred him to undertake a personal experiment materials, tools and effects.

Sio Montera began to mix industrial materials with the conventional artist’s paints. After hundreds of hours of test and trials he succeeded in integrating diverse resources into a convincing overall composition. His canvasses are condensed into massive, encrusted color-filled paintings of either gestural lines or scratched surfaces. The lines created in his gestural works often resemble coagulated ink blots that glide from one corner to the other with total abandon and freedom. The scratched/scraped picture plane is the most recent reinvention of the artist’s style and the indentations on the surface of the paintings function like individual graffiti, the artist set of personal coded references inscribed on the work’s ground like hardened symbols or signs.

In this latest exhibition dubbed “AbstracSIOn II” which opened to the public last August 14, the artist metaphorically combines artistic production with immediate experiences of his human existence. Each of the works creates an overall effect that is based from the language of the artist’s soul and is considered by him as emblems and symbolic indications of his presence in this short life. These new installment of Sio Montera’s work has also taken distance from the linear logic of adults to arrive at the impulsive logic of children. The created visual field reassures flatness that is both direct and embracing typical of the spontaneity inherent in the spur-of-the-moment, scribble drawings. They represent for him an extraordinary mirror for multiplying or shattering imagery to reinvent or exorcize life.

The said exhibit of 26 interesting contemporary artworks opened with a ribbon-cutting with the exhibit’s guest of honors namely: Creative Cebu’s Meg Osmeña, Canadian Art aficionado Mark Milne, Maribago Bluewater’s General Manager Rhyz Buac and the artist’s associate and close friend Jude Bacalso. Bluewater Gallery will feature Dennis “Sio” Montera’s exhibit from August 14 to September 12, 2009. For exhibit viewing appointment, get in touch with Gallery Coordinator Ruben B. Licera, Jr. at (63 32) 492 0100 local 512 or email events@bluewater.com.ph.

Source: The Freeman Cebu

Ideal place for city dwellers

MANILA, Philippines - The cosmopolitan business district of Makati and more recently, the trendy urbanization of Bonifacio Global City (BGC), continue to manifest as attractive locations for homeowners, especially professionals working within the mentioned areas. While these central locations offer convenience and accessibility, the escalating price of real estate makes it prohibitive for the middle class market.

Working professionals and starter families with modest incomes, can now find the perfect alternative address, just five minutes away from the BGC and a short drive from Makati Central Business District.

Cypress Towers by DMCI Homes is located along C-5 Road, beside Diego Silang Road. This valuable location pits the property right on top of the list for options that even the middle income earners can afford. Accessible from the area are various important destinations such as Market Market, Ortigas Center, and the NAIA Airport Terminals.

This development also offers more value-for-money features. For one, the price of a studio unit in the prime locations of Makati and BGC will already buy a working professional a two-bedroom unit at Cypress Towers.

Adam U. Trinidad, project director, said that the target market profile is composed of decision makers, majority of which are single or who are about to get married. Currently, they are residing in various parts of Metro Manila, either with their families or renting apartments and condos near their places of work.

“At Cypress Towers, the prices of units are within reach of middle income families, while presenting high-end advantages that can be found in the premier communities of the major developers,” Trinidad said.

Comparatively, similar high-rise developments in the BGC and Makati areas are priced at P80,000 to P93,000 per sqm, with an average of 20 sqm for their studio unit, while a 100 sqm floor area home can be too expensive. Amenities are also basic, and mostly installed on the podium level, which add to the constrictive conditions. At Cypress Towers, condo units are offered for only P55,000 to P60,000 per sqm.

Source: Philippine Star

Setting up JVs for real estate

MANILA, Philippines - To hasten our economic recovery, three major resources must be encouraged to join together for real estate development. One is the real estate developer who has the experience and knowledge but may or may not have the capital needed. Another is the one with the financial resources and capacity, interested in real estate business but lacks the knowledge or experience. The third is the one with the land who may lack either financial resources or knowledge to develop his land.

It would be a big economic contribution if the three resources can join together and made productive. However, before a joint venture could be concluded, many questions and other important aspects should be learned and answered for the protection of all the parties. In this regard, Urban Institute of Real Estate will conduct a seminar on Joint Venture and Syndication For Real Estate Projects on Wednesday, September 9, 1:30 to 6 p.m. at the Maximo Function Room, 2nd floor Max’s Restaurant, near the exit of Glorietta 2, Makati City.

Source: Philippine Star

The lecturer is Engr. Enrico Cruz, who has more than 40 years in real estate, engineering, construction, management and education. Cruz is also a licensed real estate consultant and 1st and 8th placer in the real estate appraiser’s and broker’s board examinations respectively, and was invested as a “Real Estate Fellow” by the Philippine Council of Real Estate Educators.

Urban will also be conducting lectures on other topics every Wednesday until Oct. 14, at the same time and venue as follows: Sept. 2 – Legal Aspects of Sale, Mortgage and Lease; Sept. 16 – Property Valuation: How To Do It Yourself; Sept. 23 – How to Start and Manage A Successful Real Estate Brokerage Company; Sept. 30 – Taxation of Real Estate Transactions; Oct. 7 – Real Estate Finance and Investment Analysis; Oct. 14 – Making Big Money in Distressed Properties.

Importance of location

MANILA, Philippines - Before getting your business going, you need to prioritize on investing in a good location. It’s no wonder why in the crowded streets of perhaps the world’s oldest Chinatown, in the bustling city of Manila, the most diverse market of wholesale merchandise has kept the city awake even in the most lull hours of the day. Perhaps the popular belief rings true that if it sells in Chinatown, it will sell everywhere else.

As businesses abound progressively in this Chi Lai or inner city, property giant Megaworld Corporation comes to provide a Hong Kong-style community that keeps one’s home closer to where business happens. Cityplace, a twin-tower landmark of progress, is more than an impressive modern nestling enclave but a one-stop shopping and ultimate dining haven.

This impressive landmark is a multi-faceted gem amidst Chinatown’s rich cultural backdrop with its 37- and 39-storey residential towers beaming both of glass and concrete and three-level commercial center bursting with extensive rows of shops and chains of dining outlets resembling Causeway Bay, Hong Kong’s prime shopping haven.

Prime location

A genius in residential development, Megaworld has teamed with meticulous engineers and architects in providing a luxurious residential and commercial property on a prime residential location.

“Cityplace, which will be ready in two years, is our upscale development that brings everything close to you – your family, your business and the best of Chinatown. It is the ideal place to grow your family business,” noted Megaworld Newport Property Holdings FVP for marketing and project head John Natividad.

You can be abreast with every aspect of your business without getting mangled in traffic as Cityplace is situated at the main artery of Chinatown where a bewildering array of shops selling attractive Chinese arts and crafts, furniture, jewelry, Chinese medicines, food preserves, fresh produce, as well as hardware and office supplies can be found.

Source: Philippine Star