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Wearables rebound to depend on US market access

REUTERS

By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter

THE Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines (CONWEP) said that the key to a rebound in Philippine wearables exports, which have declined 20%, is improving access to markets like the US.

“Key to the industry’s survival is market access to the US. Philippine (wearables exports) to the US without preferential tariff treatment remain uncompetitive at a duty of 17%- 32%,” CONWEP Executive Director Maritess Jocson-Agoncillo said in an e-mail.

“Orders were simply not coming in in the second or third quarter of 2023. The stores were cutting down on inventory. Even at the height of the Christmas season, a major brand pulled out and moved production to Vietnam,” she said.

Ms. Jocson-Agoncillo has said the Philippine apparel industry typically banks on spring and summer orders which start shipping between September and November.

However, exports declined sharply last year as consumer confidence in key markets took a hit as prices rose, and wars pressured supply chains for many goods.

CONWEP reported that wearables exports fell 20.1% in the 11 months to November to $1.22 billion.

“The wearables sector continues to swim through a critical distressed phase, considering the double-digit drop in our 2023 export performance,” she said.

In November, wearables exports declined 18% year on year to $99.94 million.

If the downtrend is confirmed over the full year, it would break the two-year run of export growth. Shipments grew 29% and 8% in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Apparel, CONWEP’s top export item, declined 17% to $635.8 million in the first 11 months, while leather goods and handbag exports dropped 23.6% to $501.21 million.

Textiles exports fell 13.5% in the first 11 months to $231.16 million.

“Footwear (exports were valued at) $78.4 million in the 11 months to November,” Ms. Jocson-Agoncillo said.

“The industry’s competitive advantage was significantly eroded by the consecutive increases in mandated minimum wages after COVID and the cost of utilities such as power,” she added.

“During the second to third quarter of 2023, we experienced major downsizing of firms and a few closures,” she added.

Due to the closures, Ms. Jocson-Agoncillo said CONWEP’s current workforce estimate is a maximum of 200,000 from about 280,000 in 2019.

Pineapple export growth estimated at 5% due to strong demand — FAO

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

PHILIPPINE pineapple exports may have increased year on year by 5.04% to 611,873 metric tons (MT) in 2023 due to increasing demand, according to preliminary data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

In its market review, the FAO said that long shelf life, a strong price-to-quality ratio, and the year-round production cycle were behind the attractiveness of pineapple exports.

It added that the average export unit value of Philippine pineapple is $585 per MT, based on preliminary data for the first seven months of 2023.

The Philippines is the second-largest exporter of pineapple after Costa Rica.

China was the market for 46% of Philippine pineapple exports.

“Imports of pineapple from the Philippines to China benefited from higher Chinese demand for premium-quality pineapple,” the FAO said.

It added that imports by China may have increased by 7% last year to about 250,000 MT.

“Amid changing consumer preferences, import growth in recent years has been driven by growing demand for more premium pineapple, with the MD2 variety from the Philippines particularly sought after,” the FAO said.

MD2 is the most commonly planted pineapple variety in the Philippines.

Other export markets, like Japan and South Korea, also expanded between 5-7% in 2023. Japan accounted for about 30% of the Philippine pineapple exports, and South Korea 13%.

The FAO said global pineapple exports likely grew 4% in 2023, to 3.2 million MT. This was due to higher output from Costa Rica, which has a market share of 65%.

“Weather conditions in key Costa Rican growing areas were favorable for the cultivation of pineapple… resulting in higher yields and thus higher supplies for export,” it added. — Adrian H. Halili

Regional fishport volumes up 10.6% in Dec.

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

FISH volumes landed at regional fish ports rose 10.6% year on year in December to 47,952.79 metric tons (MT), the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) said.

In a statement, the PFDA said the General Santos Fish Port Complex landed 25,005.44 MT of fish during the period, up 2.58% from a year earlier.

It added that the Bulan Fish Port Complex in Sorsogon recorded a 2.59% jump in landed fish at 1,174.00 MT.

The Davao Fish Port Complex landed 1,215.12 MT, up sharply from 310.72 MT a year earlier.

The PFDA said that the Iloilo and Lucena fish ports landed 1,724.49 MT and 1,521.27 MT, respectively, with volumes recovering from the previous month’s decline.

Due to the closed fishing season in Visayan and Northern Palawan waters, the Navotas Fish Port reported a decline in landed fish in December at 16,506.60 MT.

The Zamboanga Fish Port Complex landed 772.975 MT of fish for the month, due to the closed sardine fishing season in the Zamboanga Peninsula, the PFDA reported.

Closed fishing seasons also affected the fish port in Sual, Pangasinan, which landed 32.9 MT of fish for the month.

The closed fishing season occurs annually as a means of replenishing the population of fish, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

BFAR announced early last year that sardine fishing was banned between Nov. 15 and Feb. 15. This coincided with the closed fishing in the Visayan Sea for small pelagic fish, including sardines.

Sardine fishing was also banned in northern Palawan between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31, while a closed season for herring and mackerel in the Visayan Sea was declared between Nov. 15 and Feb. 15. — Adrian H. Halili

Calamity funds worth P19.74B released in 2023

ILIGAN CITY DRRMO

CALAMITY FUNDS worth P19.74 billion were released from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund in 2023, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Some 82.6% of the P23.205-billion disaster fund had been released as of Dec. 31.

The fund is tapped to provide relief and rehabilitation assistance to communities or areas affected by human-induced and natural calamities and other capital expenditure for disaster operations.

National Government agencies received P18.05 billion of the fund releases, with the Department of Public Works and Highways getting P11.08 billion.

This was followed by the Departments of Social Welfare and Development (P5.05 billion), the Agriculture (P1 billion), Transportation (P342.47 million), National Defense (P207.64 million), and Science and Technology (P35.18 million).

Some P688.89 million was released to government-owned and -controlled corporations at the end of November.

As of the end of the year, P3.47 billion remained undistributed from the disaster fund.

Under the 2024 National Expenditure Plan, calamity funding has been set at P31 billion for this year. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Transport, power costs critical to success of cold storage network

PHILIPPINE STAR/ANDY ZAPATA JR.

By Adrian H. Halili, Reporter

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) needs to address logistics and utility issues if its plan to set up a network of cold storage facilities is to succeed, according to analysts.

Monetary Board member V. Bruce J. Tolentino said there may be “infrastructure issues such as transport and electric power issues that need to be resolved first.”

“There may also be policy issues such as LGU (local government unit) permits, etc. that are constraining the speedy transport of goods,” Mr. Tolentino said in a Viber message.

At a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., said the DA has allocated about P1 billion for the construction of four cold storage facilities this year.

The DA is planning to put up sites in Taguig, Quezon, Mindoro, and La Union or Baguio.

He added that an additional P5 billion is needed to build more facilities elsewhere in the country.

On Monday, the DA said the network will stockpile high-value crops and vegetables and smooth out periods of shortage or oversupply.

Former Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said the vegetable industry has not been receiving significant funding in recent years.

“Financial resources will be needed to up the game in terms of boosting productivity (and) sustaining fresh supplies, (enabling) affordable prices year-round,” Mr. Dar said in a text message.

The first facility to be constructed will rise on a 1.3-hectare site at the Food Terminal, Inc. complex In Taguig City at a cost of about P500 million.

The DA said cold storage will reduce post-harvest losses and allow commodities to be stored during periods of oversupply, allowing farmers to generate revenue from their harvests regardless of supply conditions.

Mr. Dar said the facilities will also maintain the quality of produce, raising the likelihood of farmers getting good prices.

“Spoilage will be minimized, and prices can be stabilized. Hoarding as well can be (reduced) if not eradicated,” he added.

Mr. Tolentino said that there is a need to undertake a thorough assessment of the economic and financial feasibility of constructing more cold storage facilities.

“This assessment must include in-depth consultation with private sector players to find out why these private players have not invested in cold storage facilities themselves,” he added.

Mr. Laurel concurred that the government has failed to invest in major post-harvest facilities in decades.

“No major post-harvest facility has been funded by the government in the last 40 years. Puro mga tingi-tingi (the facilities have been retail in scale) which are irrelevant or useless… we cannot build small; we need to build big,” he said.

Raul Q. Montemayor, Federation of Free Farmers national manager, said that keeping products within cold storage facilities will mean expenses for farmers, who, “must be linked to as many markets as possible, electronically if possible, so that they can dispose of their products at the soonest possible time.”

Mr. Montemayor added that product standards need to be developed and applied to assure quality produce for consumers.

“Logistical support for transport will be essential so that products are delivered promptly to buyers,” he said.

Hotshots, Fuel Masters gun for quick semifinal clincher

CHITO VICTOLERO — PBA

Games Wednesday
PhilSports Arena
4 p.m. — Phoenix vs Meralco
8 p.m. — Magnolia vs TNT
*Phoenix, Magnolia with twice-to-beat advantage

THE FIRST part of the mission — getting win-once advantage in the playoffs — is done with.

Now it’s time for top seed Magnolia and No. 4 Phoenix to reap the fruits of their hard work throughout the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations.

The Hotshots go for the quick semifinal clincher against No. 8 TNT while the Fuel Masters seek the same against No. 5 Meralco as the playoffs fire off today at the PhilSports Arena.

Magnolia and Phoenix know exactly what it entails to finish off their respective opponents with twice-to-win disadvantage and arrange a semifinal duel.

“We’re going to have to work our butts off,” said Fuel Masters coach Jamike Jarin on the eve of their 4 p.m. showdown with the back-against-the-wall Bolts.

“We have to double our efforts. If they’re going to come in at 100 percent, we should come in at 120,” he added.

That’s exactly what’s on the mind of Meralco counterpart Luigi Trillo.

“The key is for us to play ‘playoff basketball.’ We have to throw everything at them, including the kitchen sink,” he said.

Magnolia mentor Chito Victolero, whose charges have held pole position all along, stressed the playoffs are a whole new ballgame.

TNT vows to compete like it always does all-tournament long, even with a depleted crew. RR Pogoy’s return from heart ailment in their quarters-clinching 116-96 win over Phoenix last Sunday added firepower to Jojo Lastimosa’s team in time for the playoffs run.

“One thing we’ve been consistent with this season is we’re been competing. We were not out of the games; it just so happened we didn’t have the exact lineup we wanted. And now Roger’s there. I’m hoping we have enough guys to play down the stretch,” said Mr. Lastimosa. — Olmin Leyba

Eala slides to No. 187 in WTA rankings

ALEX EALA — ALEX EALA FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

ALEX Eala slipped a bit in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings after an early exit in the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne last week.

From a new career-high of No. 185 to start the year, Ms. Eala slid to No. 187 as per the latest list of the women’s pro circuit in the middle of the Australian Open main draw.

For the second straight stint in the Australian Open women’s level, Ms. Eala exited in the first round of the qualifying draw with a 6-2, 7-5 defeat against Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson.

The 18-year-old Filipina ace, who won the 2020 Australian Open girls’ doubles title with Indonesian pal Priska Madelyn Nugroho, also absorbed an opening-round defeat against Japan’s Misaki Doi, 6-4, 6-7, 3-6 in her women’s debut last year. Ms. Eala was also dealt a first-round loss in the Canberra Workday International against Switzerland’s Celine Naef, 6-4, 7-5, that served as her warm-up for the Australian Open.

But all’s not lost for the Rafael Nadal Academy’s proud graduate, who scored a Final Four finish in the doubles division of the same event with Brazilian partner Laura Pigossi. Ms. Eala, a former world junior No. 2, is out to ride on the wealthy experience from these big tournaments to start her season after a productive campaign last year.

Her target is to barge into the Top 100 of the women’s pro circuit after capturing two pro titles last year, including two bronze medals in the Asian Games to end the Philippines’ 17-year tennis medal drought. — John Bryan Ulanday

Royse Tubino moves to Choco Mucho from PLDT

CHOCO MUCHO added a veteran presence in Royse Tubino recently, hoping the former Army standout would be the last piece of the championship puzzle the franchise has long sought for in the Premier Volleyball League.

“Attention: A new Titan is here! Salute this dynamic soldier-athlete turned powerful hitter,” the team announced Monday night via social media.

The 31-year-old Ms. Tubino, who played for Army and PLDT the past few years, should provide the needed stabilizing presence and additional firepower to the Flying Titans squad raring to fill in the void left by Bea de Leon and Caithlin Viray, who went to other teams, and Des Cheng (injury).

She would join a team that is already teeming with stars including reigning MVP Sisi Rondina, Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag and Isa Molde.

Choco Mucho had also acquired Mars Alba from disbanded F2 Logistics, Mean Mendrez from PLDT and Bia General from Cignal more than a week ago and Tubino’s arrival could be the key to ending its championship quest. Meanwhile, Galeries Tower has picked up libero Alyssa Eroa, who will make her return after a three-year absence.

Ms. Eroa, who last played for PLDT in the Bacarra, Ilocos Norte bubble three years ago, joined a club that has also tabbed Shola Alvarez, France Ronquillo and Renee Mabilangan. — Joey Villar

Messi named FIFA player of 2023

LIONEL MESSI — REUTERS

LONDON — Argentine Lionel Messi retained the FIFA men’s player of the year trophy on Monday, beating Manchester City’s treble-winning Norwegian striker Erling Haaland and France’s Paris St Germain (PSG) forward Kylian Mbappe to the award.

Spain’s 2023 World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati was voted the best women’s player of the year.

Mr. Messi, who also secured the men’s award in 2022 after guiding Argentina to World Cup victory, clinched the Ligue 1 title with PSG alongside Mbappe following that success, before moving to Major League Soccer team Inter Miami.

The 36-year-old, voted the best player by national teams coaches, captains, journalists and fans, helped Inter Miami win the 2023 Leagues Cup — a competition between MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX sides — scoring 10 goals.

Mr. Messi was not present to collect the trophy.

The award period for the men’s prize ran from Dec. 19, 2022 to Aug. 20, 2023, and started the day after the World Cup final in Qatar.

Mr. Haaland, who helped City clinch a treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League titles by scoring 52 goals in 53 matches across all competitions in the 2022-23 season, finished second in the voting.

The 23-year-old had the same points as Mr. Messi but lost out by having fewer first-place votes from national team captains.

City’s Pep Guardiola won the Best Men’s Coach award. The Spaniard, who before winning the treble with City last term had achieved the same feat at Barcelona in 2008-09, dedicated his award to fellow nominees Simone Inzaghi and Luciano Spalletti. Mr. Inzaghi guided Inter Milan to the 2023 Champions League final, where they lost 1-0 to City, while Spalletti won Serie A with Napoli to end the club’s 33-year wait for the title.

Sarina Wiegman claimed the Best Women’s coach prize after leading England to the World Cup final where they lost 1-0 to Spain.

Seven of her Lionesses were included in the Women’s World XI, including Mary Earps, who also took the Best Women’s Goalkeeper Award.

Brazil’s Manchester City keeper Ederson won the men’s award. — Reuters

Josh Allen shines as Buffalo Bills hold off Steelers, 31-17

JOSH ALLEN passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another to lead the Buffalo Bills to a 31-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in an American Football Conference wild-card game on Monday at Orchard Park, New York.

Khalil Shakir had a pivotal touchdown catch in the fourth quarter to help the second-seeded Bills win a playoff game for the fourth straight season. Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid also had touchdown catches for Buffalo. Mr. Allen completed 21 of 30 passes for 203 yards and rushed for 74 yards on eight carries. James Cook had 79 yards on 18 rushes and Kaiir Elam snatched a key interception as the Bills recorded their sixth straight victory.

The Bills will host the third-seeded Kansas City Chiefs in next weekend’s divisional round.

Mason Rudolph completed 22 of 39 passes for 229 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the seventh-seeded Steelers. Diontae Johnson and Calvin Austin III had scoring catches for Pittsburgh.

The game, initially scheduled for Sunday, was pushed back to Monday after a massive snowstorm hit Buffalo and surrounding towns. The temperature at kickoff on Monday was 17 degrees (felt like 4).

Pittsburgh moved within 24-17 when Rudolph connected with Austin on a 7-yard scoring pass with 10:32 left in the contest.

Buffalo answered to restore its 14-point lead as the diminutive Shakir made a giant individual play. On second-and-9 from the Pittsburgh 17-yard line, Mr. Allen threw a short pass to Shakir and Steelers star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was all over him at the 15. But Mr. Shakir shook off the tackle and broke another while weaving through traffic to complete the touchdown with 6:27 remaining that effectively defused Pittsburgh’s charge.

Buffalo appeared on track to coast through the game when it scored the first 21 points.

Mr. Allen hit Mr. Knox for a 9-yard score with 7:02 left in the opening quarter. The Bills soon received a big break when Taron Johnson forced Pittsburgh’s George Pickens to fumble, and Buffalo’s Terrel Bernard recovered at the Steelers 29.

On the next play, Allen drilled a touchdown pass to Kincaid to make it 14-0 with 4:10 left in the quarter.

Pittsburgh had a chance to narrow its deficit, but Rudolph was intercepted in the end zone by Mr. Elam with 10:52 left in the first half.

Buffalo took advantage when Mr. Allen took the ball 52 yards for a touchdown on a designed run. He broke a tackle at the Steelers 35 and kicked his speed up while finishing the play.

Late in the second quarter, Mr. Rudolph tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Mr. Johnson to pull Pittsburgh within 21-7 with 1:39 left.

The teams traded field goals in the third quarter — Chris Boswell connected from 40 yards out for the Steelers and Tyler Bass kicked a 45-yarder for Buffalo — to keep the margin at 14 entering the final stanza.

The Steelers dropped their fifth consecutive playoff game dating back to the 2016 postseason. They also fell to 1-11 when star linebacker T.J. Watt (knee) misses a game.

Bernard, the Bills’ leading tackler, was carted off the field with a right ankle injury during the third quarter. — Reuters

Swiatek suppresses Kenin challenge to reach second round

IGA SWIATEK

MELBOURNE — World number one Iga Swiatek overcame a strong early challenge from former champion Sofia Kenin to reach the second round of the Australian Open with a 7-6(2) 6-2 victory in a high quality contest on Tuesday.

The Pole was forced to play her best tennis to see off her 41st-ranked opponent in a rematch of the 2020 French Open final and set up a clash against either another former champion in Angelique Kerber or 2022 finalist Danielle Collins.

The match started in blazing sunshine and Ms. Kenin was soon playing with the strutting confidence that helped her clinch her only Grand Slam title on the same Rod Laver Arena court four years ago.

The 25-year-old American snatched an early break only to hand it back with successive double faults but again feasted on Ms. Swiatek’s second serve for another break with a monster of a backhand down the line.

Ms. Swiatek has not won four Grand Slam titles without being able to problem-solve, however, and again put the set back on level terms at 5-5, had a set point at 6-5, and dominated the tiebreak.

Ms. Kenin, who has plumbed the depths since her 2020 Melbourne triumph and was ranked 235 in the world at the start of last season, maintained her level at the start of the second stanza and her clean-striking was soon causing Ms. Swiatek more problems. 

Swiatek saved two break points in the next game before cruising to the finish line to reach the second round for the sixth straight year and keep alive her quest for a first Australian Open title. — Reuters

Grizzlies step up to beat Warriors in Draymond Green’s return

VINCE Williams Jr. and GG Jackson went for career-high point totals, Stephen Curry committed two backcourt turnovers in a key fourth-quarter sequence and the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the visiting Golden State Warriors 116-107 on Monday night.

Williams scored 24 points and Jackson had 23 off the bench for the Grizzlies, who scored 60 points on 3-pointers, 32 points on free throws and just 24 on two-point baskets. Memphis ended a two-game losing streak despite missing Ja Morant, Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane, among others.

Curry had game highs of 26 points and eight assists for the Warriors, who welcomed back Draymond Green from a 16-game absence, the first 12 of which were the result of an NBA suspension.

Coming off the bench, Green finished with seven points, seven rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes.

After Curry made a 3-pointer with 10:34 remaining to produce the fourth lead change of the fourth quarter, Luke Kennard dropped in three free throws to trigger a 16-5 burst and put Memphis in command for good.

Jackson had two 3-pointers and Kennard had one during the run, which ended with the Grizzlies holding their biggest lead to that point, 106-96, with 7:20 to go.

Curry had two critical turnovers in the stretch, dribbling the ball out of bounds once and getting stripped by Jacob Gilyard the other time. Gilyard converted his steal into a layup.

Williams, a second-year player, had a previous career high of 19 earlier this month against the Phoenix Suns, while Jackson, a two-way player in just his eighth NBA game, topped his previous best of 20, set Saturday against the New York Knicks.

Jaren Jackson Jr. racked up 18 points, five assists, five rebounds and four steals for Memphis. David Roddy had 12 points and Kennard, Gilyard and Santi Aldama 11 apiece for the Grizzlies, who shot 20-for-54 on 3-pointers and 32-for-40 on free throws.

The Warriors, on the other hand, went just 10-for-31 on threes and 9-for-10 at the stripe.

Williams and Roddy shared team-high rebound honors with seven, while Kennard joined Jaren Jackson with a team-high five assists for the Grizzlies.

Jonathan Kuminga backed Curry with 20 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Warriors, who dropped a second straight. Andrew Wiggins had 16 points and Dario Saric scored 13. — Reuters

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