Modest crop and livestock growth expected in 2025

January 1, 2025 | 7:00 pm

THE gross value added (GVA) of crops and livestock is expected to post modest growth this year with the La Niña producing above-normal rainfall, the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Center for Food and Agribusiness (CFA) said.

In a report, the CFA estimated that crop and livestock GVA will grow by up to 1% in 2025, with poultry posting 5-6% growth. However, fisheries growth is expected to slow to 0.5%.

The CFA said that it expects increased food demand and higher spending this year due to the elections, especially during the campaign period.

“The election also presents an opportunity to push for needed reforms in the agriculture sector. Good governance is crucial to effectively implement agriculture programs,” it said.

“A downside is that La Niña conditions, accompanied by above-normal rainfall, are seen to last until early 2025 and may affect agricultural activities,” it added.

“Overall, the UA&P-CFA projects a 2024 decline of 1-2% in agriculture as against the 1.2% growth last year (2023),” it added.

In the first nine months of 2023, crops, livestock, and fisheries declined 4.2%, 3.3%, and 1% respectively. Meanwhile, poultry and agri-activities and services posted 6.6% and 2.9% growth, respectively.

Through the nine months, GVA in agriculture and fisheries declined by 1.5%.

Meanwhile, the CFA estimates crops to end 2024 with a 3.5% to 4.5% decline in GVA, while livestock and fisheries are projected to post 2.5-3.5% and 1.5-2.5% declines, respectively.

The working range for GVA in agriculture and fisheries is a decline of between 1% and 2%.

The CFA said the bright prospects in agriculture include high-value crops, seaweed farming, free-range poultry, precision farming, root crops, organic certification, food processing, solar-powered irrigation, indigenous products, and agritourism.

“These growth areas have the potential to thrive and become significant contributors to the agricultural economy given strategic investments, market linkages, and strong government support coupled with private sector collaboration,” it said.

“Addressing supply chain gaps, market access, and climate challenges can also further enhance the sector’s contribution to food security and economic growth,” it added.

However, it noted that the Philippines should embrace innovation to address outdated practices, limited infrastructure, climate vulnerabilities, and resource constraints.

“Agriculture is no longer just about growing crops or raising livestock; it is about cultivating innovation, nurturing sustainability, and harvesting opportunities for global progress,” the CFA said.

“By embracing innovation, investing in education and infrastructure, supporting farmers, and promoting sustainable practices, the agriculture sector can be transformed into a robust foundation for food security, economic growth, and rural development,” it added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Initial 2,000 hectares of Iwahig penal colony to be turned over for economic zone conversion

January 1, 2025 | 6:57 pm

By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said that it is ready to receive the initial 2,000 hectares of the Iwahig Prison Penal Farm early next year for conversion into an economic zone.

The conversion of the Palawan site is the result of a partnership with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

“BuCor is ready to turn over to PEZA the initial 2,000-hectare area for ecozone development complete with topography and geohazard maps and the verified survey reports identifying the bounds of the property,” PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga told BusinessWorld via Viber.

“We will formalize our memorandum of agreement (MoA) and usufructuary agreement by early next year,” he added.

Earlier this year, PEZA and BuCor signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the conduct of due diligence in the establishment of ecozones in BuCor properties.

Under the MoU, PEZA and BuCor will collaborate in attracting investment and creating economic opportunities by establishing ecozones registered with PEZA in penal colonies.

According to BuCor, the idle land that could be used to set up ecozones could total 32,300 hectares.

These include 25,000 hectares in Iwahig, 7,000 hectares in Sablayan, Mindoro, and 300 hectares at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City.

“The next step is the MoA and usufructuary agreement for the assignment of the 2,000-hectare area to PEZA. Afterwards, we will go through the proclamation process,” he said.

“It will need to go through Presidential proclamation before we can invite locators to invest in the megazone,” he added.

Next year, PEZA is targeting 30 ecozone proclamations, nearly double this year’s proclamations.

The investment promotion agency proclaimed 16 ecozones involving investment of P5.637 billion in 2024.

According to PEZA, the target is to develop ecozones in more rural areas, noting that the growth areas for ecozone development are Calabarzon, Region 3, Cebu, and Mindanao.

Some 27 ecozones have been proclaimed during the Marcos administration, involving investment worth P9.715 billion.

Copra meal project set for W. Visayas expansion

January 1, 2025 | 6:56 pm

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will expand its Protein-Enriched Copra Meal (PECM) commercialization project to the Western Visayas to boost livestock production there.

The PECM, initially rolled out in Regions IV A and 9, is aimed at mitigating the rising costs of animal feed by using copra meal, a by-product of coconut farming, as a substitute for imported soybean meal.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said that the expansion of the project will help farmers and feed producers in the region who are facing rising prices of traditional feed ingredients.

“The program not only helps reduce feed costs but also supports the local economy by creating new markets for coconut by-products, which are often underutilized,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

Developed by the University of the Philippines-Los Baños Biotech Center employing a solid-state fermentation process, the PECM enhances copra meal’s protein content to 45%, bring it up to par with soybean meal.

According to the DA, feeding trials of the enriched copra meal, which include 200 kilos of PECM per ton of finfish feed and 100 kilos per ton of shrimp feed, returned a 3.9% and 0.4% reduction in feed costs compared to conventional commercial feed.

PECM was launched in 2022 to address supply disruptions caused by the pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine war.

“While COVID-19 has passed, the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to disrupt global feed ingredient supply chains, keeping prices for essential commodities like soybean meal, feed wheat, and corn elevated,” DA said.

“Russia and Ukraine together account for about 30% of global feed grain supply, further exacerbating the pressure on feed prices,” it added.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that hog production in the Western Visayas dropped 23% to 158,471 metric tons (MT) in 2023.

Meanwhile, carabao production in the region increased 3.9% to 17,159 MT, cattle production flat at 19,007 MT, and goat production rose 11% to 7,105 MT.

In 2023, duck production in the region decreased 1.9% to 2,722 MT, and duck egg production fell 5.4% to 4,306 MT.

Chicken production in the Western Visayas last year increased 4.8% to 131,926 MT, while chicken egg output rose by 7.9% to 40,015 MT.

“By expanding the copra meal initiative, the DA aims to strengthen food security, improve local feed production, and promote more efficient use of agricultural by-products in livestock farming,” it said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Foreign investment marketing plan expected for completion by January

January 1, 2025 | 6:56 pm

THE Board of Investments (BoI) said it expects to finalize its Foreign Investment Promotion and Marketing Plan (FIPMP) by January.

Lanie O. Dormiendo, a director at the BoI International Investments Promotion Service, told reporters that FIPMP has gone through public consultation.

“The deadline was set on Dec. 13 because the Inter-Agency Investment Promotion Coordination Committee (IIPCC) intends to finalize the FIPMP by January next year,” she said in a recent briefing.

According to Ms. Dormiendo, the FIPMP will identify priority areas for promotion not just by the BoI but by all investment promotion agencies.

“As you know, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority is also a member of the IIPCC, and there will be identified targets also in the plan,” she said.

Last month, the BoI invited the public to provide feedback on the draft FIPMP, which is designed to enhancing the Philippines’ competitiveness in the face of stiff competition from elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

The marketing plan seeks to highlight the Philippines’ unique advantages, such as its strong English proficiency, a robust business process outsourcing industry, and preferential trade agreements.

It also hopes to address any perceived barriers to investment, such as infrastructure challenges and regulatory uncertainty.

“By clearly communicating these strengths and addressing weaknesses, the country can better position itself as an attractive destination for global investors,” according to the FIPMP draft.

“With the execution of this promotion and marketing plan, the Philippines is projected to increase foreign direct investment (FDI) by 5%, with an additional percentage point of growth expected annually until 2028,” it added.

Last month, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said that FDI net inflows slumped 36.2% to $368 million in September.

This brought nine-month FDI net inflows to $6.66 billion, up 3.8%.

According to the draft, the creation of a marketing and communication execution plan will be the next phase of the strategy.

“This execution plan will operationalize or create the necessary outputs based on the strategies discussed in this plan to ensure the successful delivery of the campaign,” it said.

“This includes strengthening internal resources, elevating government partnerships, and optimizing digital platforms that can effectively support the plan’s objectives,” it added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Strong budget support in 2025 fueling hopes for PHL athletes

January 1, 2025 | 6:12 pm

PSC-athletes — PHILIPPINE SPORTS COMMISSION Chairman Richard E. Bachmann welcomed our national youth chess athletes who made a majestic performance at the 18th Asian Schools Chess Championships in Thailand. — FACEBOOK.COM/PSC.GOV.PH

WITH a massive war chest, Filipino athletes will be well equipped when they plunge into action in several huge international tournaments in what many expect to be an exciting 2025.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino are both bracing for a busy schedule that includes the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games (AIMAG).
Mr. Bachmann said the Philippines is expected to receive funding of more than P1 billion this year straight from the 2025 General appropriations Act.

“This will be all for the athletes and our programs,” Mr. Bachmann said.

Mr. Tolentino will convene the POC executive board on Jan. 9 as well as the general assembly less than a week later — Jan. 15 — to get everything started.

“Work starts in earnest,” the Tagaytay City Mayor and PhilCycling chief said.

The SEA Games are scheduled for December in Thailand while the oft-postponed AIMAG will be staged in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at a still unannounced date.

Also, the Philippines will field a lean but mean delegation in the Asian Winter Games scheduled for Feb. 7 to 14 in Harbin, China.

Mr. Tolentino said he expects tough opposition in Thailand.

“That will be a tough SEA Games, but I’m confident our athletes, our national sports associations will deliver in Thailand,” he said.

The Philippines is also looking forward to Gilas Pilipinas at the FIBA Asia and will host two major meets — the FIVB World Championships set Sept. 12 to 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and MOA Arena and golf’s Philippine Open on Jan. 23 to 26 at Manila Southwoods.

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines head Cynthia Carrion also announced the hosting of the Asian Juniors Artistic Gymnastics Championships from July 12 to 21.

That is apart from several events including the World Championships scheduled Oct. 19 to 25 in Jakarta, Indonesia that Carlos Yulo, the Paris Olympics double gold medal winner, is set to compete in. — Joey Villar

Eala enters quarters at Australian Open warm-up

January 1, 2025 | 6:11 pm

AUSTRALIAN OPEN-BOUND Alex Eala barged into the quarterfinals of the Workday Canberra International on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old made short work of Dutch ace Arianne Hortono, 6-3, 6-3, to carry over her winning streak from the tail end of 2024.

Ms. Eala previously drubbed Austria’s Sinja Kraus, 6-2, 6-4, in the Round of 32 of the main draw after ruling the qualifying round.

Seeded as No. 1 in the qualifiers, the lefty standout took care of business against home bets Catherine Aulia, 6-1, 6-2, and, Alana Subasic, 5-7, 6-0, 6-1.

Ms. Eala connected on four aces to dispatch Ms. Hortono in only 70 minutes of play to make it to the Top 8.

Ms. Eala, who recently improved to No. 147 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) before the yearend, is utilizing the Canberra tourney to prepare for the Australian Open on Jan. 12 to 26 in Melbourne.

She is seeking to become the first Filipina to ever play in a Grand Slam main tourney.

Ms. Eala made it to the finals of the qualifying rounds in three other majors — French Open, Wimbledon, and Australian Open — last year but to no avail.

A graduate of the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain, Ms. Eala was a junior Grand Slam champion in the Australian and US Open but has yet to make a breakthrough in the tougher women’s circuit. — John Bryan Ulanday

Xander Schauffele still vying to supplant Scottie Scheffler for golf No. 1

January 1, 2025 | 6:11 pm

XANDER SCHAUFFELE hasn’t forgotten nor given up on one of his biggest career goals, though he knows how difficult the climb will be.

Schauffele has said in the past that he wants to earn the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) someday, but even with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler out of the field this week at The Sentry, it’s not as simple as Schauffele winning a few more tournaments.

The 2025 season begins with Scheffler leading No. 2 Schauffele by 6.3727 average points in the OWGR’s ranking system, which utilizes a two-year rolling period, emphasizes players’ most recent performances and factors in tournaments’ strength of field.

When speaking with reporters on Tuesday ahead of The Sentry in Kapalua, Hawaii, Schauffele nodded to the dominant year Scheffler had to build such a massive lead in the OWGR. He agreed that he feels “under the radar” — ironic after a year in which he won his first two major championships.

“Yeah, just kind of cruising around right where I want to be,” Schauffele said. “It’s a wild time. Winning two majors and being further away, or closer to the 30^th-ranked player than the first is — hats off to Scottie. He’s a beast.”

It’s not exactly accurate to say Schauffele is closer to No. 30 in the rankings to No. 1, but the margin is similar to the gap between Schauffele and World No. 22 Aaron Rai of England.

“He just kept winning. Even in sort of his downtime, he won another event, which pushed him even further away,” Schauffele said. “So it’s one of my goals that will just have to stay on the calendar for a few more years.”

Schauffele was referencing Scheffler’s victory at the Hero World Challenge in early December, which is not an official PGA Tour event but still counted for ranking points. It capped a historic year for Scheffler, who also won the Masters, the Players Championship and the Olympic gold medal.

But Scheffler is not in Hawaii this week as he recovers from surgery on his right hand. He was injured by a broken glass while preparing Christmas dinner and had shards of glass embedded in his palm.

“It’s a huge bummer. I hope he’s OK,” Schauffele said. “I heard he was going to be back for American Express (the tournament in the California desert Jan. 16-19), then you hear he has surgery. I didn’t feel, like, too comfortable texting him. It’s weird, because we’re competitors, but at the same time he’s such a nice guy, him and (wife Meredith).”

Saying he tries to focus on the process rather than the results, Schauffele admitted it will “take some time and some patience” to track down the No. 1 ranking.

The PGA Championship and Open Championship winner was asked what area of his game he wants to improve to catch up to Scheffler.

“Around the greens, short game, that’s an area that’s not bad, it’s not nothing special that I do, just good enough. Those are some spots where I could improve, for sure.”

As for this week’s limited-field event, with no Scheffler or Rory McIlroy in the field, Schauffele is the odds-on favorite to win the season opener, at +550 on DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbook. — Reuters

Kenya’s Chebet caps stellar 2024 with women’s 5km world record

January 1, 2025 | 6:09 pm

DOUBLE OLYMPIC champion Beatrice Chebet smashed the women’s 5 km (kilometers) world record with a time of 13 minutes 54 seconds at the Cursa dels Nassos road race in Barcelona on Tuesday as she finished a blockbuster year on a high.

The Kenyan beat her previous record — set a year ago to the day at the Barcelona race — by 19 seconds, becoming the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier in the event.

Chebet was all on her own as she sprinted through the race and embraced friends at the finish line after adding another accolade to her name, having won the 5,000 and 10,000 meters (m) at this year’s Paris Games.

“I’m super happy as everything went according to plan,” Chebet said in remarks provided by World Athletics. “I felt capable of running under 14 and I managed to do so. Two races in Barcelona and two world records, can I ask for more?”

The 24-year-old enjoyed a nearly flawless year, breaking the 10,000 m world record in Eugene in May before claiming her second Diamond League title in the 5,000 m in September.

Chebet said she will turn her attention to the World Championships in Tokyo in 2025, where she hopes to compete in both the 5,000 and 10,000, after picking up silver in 2022 and bronze in 2023 in the shorter distance. — Reuters

30-point Giannis game propels Bucks past Pacers

January 1, 2025 | 6:08 pm

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO scored 30 with 12 rebounds to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a comeback 120-112 road win against the Pacers.

Brook Lopez added 16 points for Milwaukee, which rallied from 19 down in the second half. Khris Middleton added 15 points and Bobby Portis and Gary Trent, Jr. each scored 14.

Benedict Mathurin led Indiana with 25 points while Pascal Siakam added 20.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 12 but struggled, shooting 3-for-13 from the floor.

The first half was not pretty on the offensive front.

The Bucks struggled mightily from the field while Indiana had turnover issues.

The Pacers went on a bit of a run at the end of the second to take a 64-53 halftime lead. Milwaukee shot just 4 of 20 from deep as a team in the half.

In the third, Indiana stormed ahead. A 19-11 Pacers run to start the second half gave them a 19-point edge, their largest of the day. Then they didn’t score for four-plus minutes, opening the door for Milwaukee.

After starting 0 for 9 from the field, Damian Lillard broke through, knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers and getting the Bucks within three heading into the fourth at 91-88.

The Bucks tied the game at 99 with 7:22 left thanks to Antetokounmpo getting it going after a slow start. It was then a back-and-forth game until Milwaukee grabbed the lead at 107-104, its first lead since the opening quarter.

Gary Trent, Jr.’s clutch shooting put the Bucks out in front. The sharpshooter hit back-to-back tough 3-pointers, including one at the end of the shot clock, to give the Bucks a five-point edge with just under two minutes to play.

Antetokounmpo put the game out of reach with a jumper and a free throw. He scored 26 of his 30 points in the second half, including 13 in the fourth.

Milwaukee improved to 2-0 over Indiana this season with two more matchups coming between the division rivals. — Reuters

Celtics win by 54, hand Raptors 10^th straight loss

January 1, 2025 | 6:08 pm

JAYSON TATUM had 23 points and eight rebounds on Tuesday as the Boston Celtics crushed the Toronto Raptors 125-71 for their 10^th straight win in the all-time head-to-head series.

The loss extended Toronto’s losing streak to 11.

The Raptors, who committed 21 turnovers, have lost their last five road games and haven’t beaten Boston since the 2021-22 season.

Payton Pritchard (5 of 8 on 3-point attempts) came off the bench to score 19 for the Celtics.

Derrick White (16), Jrue Holiday (14), Jaylen Brown (12), Sam Hauser (12) and Jordan Walsh (10) also scored in double figures for Boston, which made 22 of 43 3-point attempts (51.2%). No Boston starter played more than 29 minutes.

The Celtics entered the contest with three losses in their last four games.

Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 16 points and 13 rebounds but was 1 of 8 from 3-point territory. The Raptors received nine points from Davion Mitchell, while Jakob Poeltl contributed seven points and 13 rebounds.

The Celtics scored more points in the second half (80) than the Raptors scored in the game. Toronto’s 71 points were the fewest scored in an NBA game this season.

Toronto played without R.J. Barrett (illness) and Gradey Dick (hamstring).

Kristaps Porzingis, Boston’s No. 3 scorer (18.3 points per game), missed his third straight game with an ankle injury.

Although they missed 10 of their first 11 shots, the Celtics had a 23-12 lead after one quarter. The Raptors were 5 of 23 from the field in the quarter, including 0 for 12 from 3-point range.

Toronto was within seven late in the second quarter but trailed 45-35 at halftime.

The Celtics used a 24-3 run to extend their lead to 87-51 late in the third quarter and led 90-53 entering the fourth. Boston made 10 of its 12 3-point attempts in the third, outscoring Toronto 45-18.

Boston improved to 2-0 against Toronto this season. — Reuters

Lions beat 49ers as showdown with Vikings awaits

January 1, 2025 | 6:08 pm

JARED GOFF threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns (TD) and the Detroit Lions defeated the San Francisco 49ers 40-34 at Santa Clara, California on Monday night.

Jameson Williams scored two touchdowns for Detroit (14-2), but the game had no bearing on the playoff picture. The Lions’ home game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, the final game of the regular season, will determine the top seed in the NFC playoffs.

Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries and also gained 46 yards on four receptions.

Brock Purdy passed for a career-high 377 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another score but was intercepted twice in the second half by Kerby Joseph. Ricky Pearsall caught eight passes for 141 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

San Francisco (6-10) led 21-13 at halftime.

The Niners scored on their first possession on Purdy’s 3-yard TD pass to Pearsall. The Lions answered with a 65-yard drive that Williams finished off with a 3-yard scoring run. The extra-point try was blocked, though, leaving the score at 7-6.

San Francisco scored again on the first play of the second quarter, a 9-yard touchdown pass from Purdy to Kyle Juszczyk.

Detroit used some razzle-dazzle for its next score.

On third-and-12, Goff connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown on a short pass. St. Brown then pitched the ball to Williams, who raced down the sideline on the 42-yard hook-and-ladder play.

The Niners got those points back less than four minutes later on Purdy’s 9-yard scramble for a touchdown.

The Lions tied the game at 21 on their first possession of the second half when Goff completed a 6-yard pass to Sam LaPorta for a TD 5:02 into the third quarter, then hooked up with Tim Patrick on a two-point conversion.

Purdy passed for 79 yards on the Niners’ ensuing drive, including a 5-yard strike to Deebo Samuel for a touchdown that made it 28-21 in favor of San Francisco.

The Lions took the lead before the quarter ended. First, Jake Bates blasted a 57-yard field goal with 4:25 remaining in the frame, then Joseph’s first interception set up Goff’s 4-yard touchdown pass to St. Brown on fourth down with 19 seconds to go.

Bates extended the advantage to six at 34-28 with his 42-yard field goal with 10:29 left in the game.

Joseph’s second interception halted the Niners’ next possession, and Gibbs’ 30-yard touchdown run with 2:58 remaining put the game away.

San Francisco backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs — who came in when Purdy was injured late — scored on a 7-yard run with 43 seconds left to make it a one-score game, but Jake Moody’s onside kick went out of bounds and the Lions kneeled out the clock. — Reuters

Mexico unveils new tariffs; popular e-tailers like Shein, Temu may be in crosshairs

January 1, 2025 | 5:33 pm

MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s tax authority SAT issued new tariffs on Tuesday, which it said will strengthen the surveillance of goods from Asia, a measure that could impact popular online retailers like Shein and Temu.

Goods that enter Mexico via courier companies originating from countries that do not have an international treaty with Mexico will be subject to a duty of 19%, SAT said in a statement shared with reporters.

Mexico does not have an international treaty with China, where Shein and Temu are based.

Goods entering via courier companies from Canada and the US, which are part of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, will be subject to a 17% duty if the value is greater than $50 but does not exceed $117.

A 19% duty will also apply to goods that exceed $1 from other countries that have international treaties with Mexico, SAT said.

The tax authority said the tariffs will strengthen the “fight against abusive practices.”

Previously, countries were not required to pay duties on goods of those values, according to a SAT spokesperson.

The new measures, which go into effect on Jan. 1, come amid a slew of new tax guidelines that impact e-commerce companies, including a Dec. 19 decree by the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum that increased import duties to as much as 35% on a swath of clothing, including dresses and shirts, home goods like blankets and curtains, as well as tents and awnings.

Officials said earlier this month that the move was aimed at preventing the importation of some products that evaded taxes, guaranteeing a level playing field for Mexican companies and protecting sector jobs.

Some industry experts have said the decree could mark a major disruption of Mexico’s IMMEX program that allows foreign companies to import goods into Mexico tax-free for manufacturing, assembly or packaging for direct sale to US shoppers.

E-commerce powerhouses Shein and Temu, which compete with US retailers like Walmart and Amazon, could be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of higher tariffs.

The decree takes effect ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration of US President-elect Donald J. Trump, who has threatened to slap a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. — Reuters