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Nelly Korda withdraws from LA event, historic win on hold

THE GOLF world will have to wait a little longer to see whether Nelly Korda can make history with a sixth consecutive Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour win.

The top-ranked player in the world withdrew Monday from the JM Eagle LA Championship, scheduled to start Thursday at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles. “It was not an easy decision,” Ms. Korda said in a state-ment on the LPGA Tour website. “After the unbelievable week at The Chevron and grinding through the mental and physical challenges of four events in the past five weeks, I am definitely feeling exhausted. “With so much still to come throughout 2024, I feel I need to listen to my body and get some rest, so I can be ready for the remainder of the season.”

Ms. Korda, 25, fired a final-round 69 to win her LPGA record-tying fifth straight event — and second major title — at the Chevron Championship on Sunday in The Woodlands, Texas. With the win, she joined Hall of Famers An-nika Sorenstam (2004-05) and Nancy Lopez (1978) as the only players in LPGA Tour history to win five straight starts.

She had to play 25 holes on the final day to make up for a weather delay Saturday on her way to winning her 13th LPGA Tour event.

“I can finally breathe now,” Ms. Korda said Sunday. “That back nine felt like the longest back nine of my entire life. It was a little bit of a grind on the back nine, but happy to get the win.”

It’s unclear when the Florida native will compete next. The Cognizant Founders Cup takes place May 9-12 in New Jersey, and the next major is the US Women’s Open in Pennsylvania to be held May 30-June 2. — Reuters

Arsenal hammers Chelsea to move three points clear at the top

LONDON — Ruthless Arsenal threw down the gauntlet in the Premier League title race with a 5-0 thrashing of London rivals Chelsea to roar three points clear at the top of the table on Tuesday.

Any remaining doubts about Arsenal’s staying power were answered emphatically as Leandro Trossard gave them an early lead before Ben White and Kai Havertz scored two each in a dazzling spell after the break to sweep aside a dazed Chelsea.

It was a powerful statement by Arsenal who have recovered impressively from a home defeat by Aston Villa and bowing out of the Champions League and with four games remaining they are piling the pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City.

Arsenal have 77 points from 34 games with Liverpool, who face Everton on Wednesday, on 74 from 33. Reigning champions Manchester City have 73 points but have two games in hand starting with a trip to Brighton and Hove Albion on Thursday.

It was the sixth time Arsenal have scored five or more in a Premier League game this season without conceding and in such a tight race they now have a huge goal difference advantage which could prove crucial to the outcome.

For ninth-placed Chelsea it was a humbling night as they suffered their heaviest ever defeat by Arsenal and a hammer blow in their bid to creep into a European place just days after their narrow FA Cup semifinal defeat by Manchester City.

Arsenal were brimming with energy in the opening half, peppering Chelsea’s goal with 13 attempts and would have led by more than one at the interval but for Chelsea’s Serbia goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.

Roared on by a fired-up Emirates Stadium crowd the hosts needed only four minutes to settle any nerves as a marauding Declan Rice drove into the heart of the area and weighted his pass perfectly for Mr. Trossard to fire home. — Reuters

Pascal Siakam puts up 37 as Pacers pull level with Bucks

PASCAL SIAKAM recorded 37 points, 11 rebounds and six assists and the Indiana Pacers evened their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series with an impressive 125-108 victory over the host Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night in Game 2.

Myles Turner added 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots for the sixth-seeded Pacers, who snapped a 10-game postseason losing streak dating back to 2018.

Andrew Nembhard scored 20 points, Tyrese Haliburton registered 12 points and 12 assists and Aaron Nesmith had 11 points and seven assists for Indiana, which had 38 assists on 50 made baskets.

“We played with more force and we played with more attitude,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “There were some tough stretches in the game. I like the way we kept our poise and our aggression. And we kept attacking. It’s a long series.

Damian Lillard scored 34 points and Brook Lopez added 22 for the third-seeded Bucks. Each player made six 3-pointers.

Milwaukee was again without star Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf).

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Friday in Indianapolis.

“We’ve got to lean on our experiences in the games on their home floor,” Mr. Lillard said. “There is going to be ups and downs in every game on the road, so we have to stay connected and stay together and play the game like we’ve been there before.”

Mr. Siakam, who made 16 of 23 shots, established a personal playoff scoring mark for a second straight game. He had 36 points in Game 1.

Khris Middleton added 15 points and six assists, and Bobby Portis had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Milwaukee, which shot 44.2 percent from the field, including 13 of 32 (40.6 percent) from 3-point range.

The Pacers made 55.6 percent of their attempts and were 16 of 36 (44.4 percent) from behind the arc.

Milwaukee scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to move within 92-88 on Pat Connaughton’s three-point play with 11:17 left in the game.

Indiana answered with eight straight points and 23 of the next 27 to rock the Bucks and open up a 23-point lead.

Mr. Siakam scored back-to-back baskets to make it 100-88 with 9:19 remaining.

A short time later, Mr. Turner scored five consecutive points to start a stretch of 13 straight Indiana points. Mr. Siakam added a layup and Mr. Turner and Mr. Haliburton drained treys to make it 115-92 with 5:55 left, and the Pacers cruised the rest of the way.

Mr. Siakam scored 21 first-half points to lead the Pacers to a 60-55 advantage at the break.

Mr. Lillard made six treys and scored 26 in the half for the Bucks. Mr. Lillard scored all 35 of his Game 1 points during the first half of Milwaukee’s victory. — Reuters

Fish import quota for Q4 set at 25,000 MT

The Department of Agriculture (DA) approved the importation of 35,000 metric tons (MT) of frozen fish for wet markets in the fourth quarter. — PHILIPPINESTAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE Department of Agriculture said it will take in applications to import 25,000 metric tons (MT) of frozen small pelagic fish for wet markets in the fourth quarter.

In Memorandum Order No. 17, the DA outlined the procedures for obtaining sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) for fish imports arriving no later than Jan. 15, 2025.

The DA said that at least 80%, or 20,000 MT, of the import allocation will go to commercial fishing companies, while the remaining 20%, or 5,000 MT, will be awarded to fisheries associations or cooperatives.

“The SPS Import Clearance under Certificate of Necessity to Import (CNI) 25,000 MT shall be issued on Sept. 1, 2024 until Nov. 30, 2024 and the fish to be imported must arrive no later than Jan. 15 of the succeeding year,” the DA said.

It said an initial volume of 112 MT will be awarded to commercial fishing companies, equivalent to four containers.

“The remaining volume shall be distributed proportionately based on their percentage share from the total volume of fish landings for the past three years immediately preceding an import period,” the DA said.

For fisheries associations, the 20% quota will be allocated based on the percentage of arrivals they delivered before the import period.

“An initial volume of 56 MT which is equivalent to two containers will be distributed to all qualified associations/ cooperatives in this period,” it added.

The DA also instructed the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to report and consolidate all imports.

“The importer is to source supply from respectable sources not derived from (illegal, unreported, and unregulated) fishing,” it said.

In addition, BFAR should also encourage importers to avoid releases to the market that compete with the domestic catch.

“Importers shall submit their complete and updated documentary requirements within seven working days from the issuance of the CNI,” the DA added. — Adrian H. Halili

US-Japan minerals deal could attract bigger membership if PHL is admitted

freepik

By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter

THE Philippine proposal to join the US-Japan Critical Minerals Agreement may end up broadening the deal’s membership, an analyst said.

“It is best to do a trilateral in a multipolar world. We can even broaden it to a quadrilateral, including Australia or even Canada, which are both active in the mining sector in the Philippines,” according to Victor Andres C. Manhit, president of the Stratbase ADR Institute, speaking via Viber.

In a recent briefing, Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said that the Philippines has proposed to US and Japanese ministers a plan to sign up for the critical minerals agreement between Japan and the US.

By doing so, the Philippines will avoid the process of negotiating bilateral or one-on-one critical minerals agreements with the US.

However, Mr. Manhit said that the accession presents both opportunities and responsibilities for the Philippines.

“The abundance of critical minerals like nickel and copper is an opportunity to position the country as a major player in the emerging supply chain for digital technologies, electric vehicles, and innovations in clean energy,” he said.

“The challenge is for the government and mining industry to develop our capacity to produce and serve what experts see as sustained demand for these metallic minerals as the world shifts to green transportation and clean en-ergy generation,” he added.

Mr. Pascual said that the proposal aims to increase US investments in mineral processing in the Philippines and help make global critical mineral supply chains more resilient.

“Pursuing bilateral or even trilateral critical agreements with the US and Japan aligns well with the spirit of the recent trilateral summit and will encourage the influx of investments to accelerate the development of the Philippine mining industry,” Mr. Manhit said.

“The support needed from linked industries and businesses will spark a multiplier effect, contributing to the economic growth of host communities through quality jobs and new revenue sources for the government,” he added.

The proposal was presented at the Trilateral Economic Ministerial Meeting on April 11 between Mr. Pascual, US Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo, and Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Ken Saito.

“By fostering these partnerships, the country can play a vital role in the global transition toward sustainable technologies and electric vehicles,” Mr. Manhit said.

“I believe the current geopolitical environment provides strong impetus to engage in a synergistic critical mineral agreement with our friends, the US and Japan,” he added.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said that the proposal was well-timed after the ministers committed to cooperating in security and foreign direct investment.

He said that if admitted, the Philippines can become a major source of minerals as more mineral users seek to de-risk their global supply chains.

“As the US and Japan diversify their sources of critical minerals and source more from the Philippines, that would lead to more mineral exports for the country, as well as investments for establishing or expanding critical mineral production and processing facilities in the country,” he added.

PhilRice reviewing response to Golden Rice court ruling

COMPANY HANDOUT

THE Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said it will review its courses of action after a Court of Appeals (CA) ruling revoking the biosafety permit of Golden Rice.

“We acknowledge the Court of Appeals’ decision regarding the Writ of Kalikasan proceedings against Golden Rice, and we are reviewing the implications of this to prepare our response,” PhilRice Executive Director John C. de Leon said in a statement.

Last week, the CA canceled the biosafety permits for the commercial propagation of Golden Rice, as well as those for Bt Eggplant, due to possible risk to the environment and public health.

In a decision dated April 17, the court stopped field testing and use of the crops. Imports were also halted until all measures are taken to ensure they are safe.

The biosafety permit for Golden Rice’s commercial propagation was granted by the Bureau of Plant Industry in July 2021.

The genetically modified crop is intended to help address vitamin A deficiency (VAD).

“It has the potential to double the vitamin A intake of children in the lowest 40% of the income distribution,” PhilRice added.

Golden Rice, whose Philippine branding is Malusog Rice, was developed with enhanced levels of beta-carotene to help tackle VAD.

It has received food safety approvals from regulators in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the US.

PhilRice runs the project in partnership with the International Rice Research Institute. — Adrian H. Halili

DoF chief economist, other undersecretaries appointed

DOF.GOV.PH

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has appointed the Department of Finance’s (DoF) chief economist and two other undersecretaries, completing the department’s roster of officials.

In a statement on Wednesday, the DoF said that Domini S. Velasquez was appointed undersecretary overseeing the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE).

“The new chief economist has over 15 years of experience in macroeconomic research and policy analysis,” it said.

Ms. Velasquez was most recently the chief economist for China Banking Corp. before joining the DoF.

She also previously worked at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and held positions at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Citibank, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The OCE is in charge of “analyzing data on emerging economic developments, providing early warning, and recommending measures aimed at anticipating and addressing key economic issues.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos appointed Charlito Martin R. Mendoza as the undersecretary for the Revenue Operations Group.

“Mr. Mendoza will oversee the operations of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), which do the heavy lifting to ensure that the government meets its annual revenue collection targets,” it said.

He had served as district collector for the Customs Port of Cebu from July 2019 to October 2022.

Mr. Mendoza is a founding partner of the Palafox Patriarca Romero & Mendoza law firm and was an associate at Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz and the Suarez & Narvasa law firms.

Meanwhile, Renato E. Reside, Jr. was appointed undersecretary in charge of the Fiscal Policy and Monitoring Group (FPMG).

“Mr. Reside will spearhead the formulation and advancement of tax reform proposals and other crucial fiscal policy recommendations,” the DoF said.

“He will likewise lead in overseeing the forecasting and programming of national government revenues, managing cash programming, and vigilant monitoring of the government’s finances.”

Mr. Reside was a consultant for the Philippine Statistics Authority and ADB. He also served at the DoF as a consultant since the 2000s on tax issues.

“They are all valuable additions to my team at the DoF. I am confident that they will lead their respective offices with great skill, dedication, and integrity,” Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Regional FDI pushed as measure against slowdown in global investment

ASEAN countries must confront the global investment slowdown head-on by stepping up intra-regional investment, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said.

In a report, “Global economic fracturing and shifting investment patterns: A diagnostic of 10 FDI trends and their development implications,” UNCTAD said global foreign direct investment (FDI) is expected to re-main stagnant in the coming years.

However, increased regional FDI offers developing countries a “secure source” of investment, amid uncertainty in key global investors such as the US and China.

“The growth of regional value chains can also stimulate the process of local development by fostering internal specialization within the region and by opening opportunities to structural transformation and value chain upgrad-ing,” UNCTAD said.

The Philippines relies on FDI from both ASEAN and non-ASEAN partners to drive job generation and growth, as it grapples with supply constraints, increasing debt, and post-pandemic effects.

“Some regional economic cooperation initiatives, such as the ASEAN, are making significant progress in stimulating intra-regional trade and investment. However, despite significant policy efforts over several decades, regional FDI still ac-counts for only about 15% of total FDI in the region,” the report said.

Intra-ASEAN FDI inflows in the first half of 2023 declined 33.7% year on year to $10.4 billion, ASEAN said in its December update.

“They need to consider options to build or strengthen the infrastructure required to enable the growth of regional trade and investment. This includes regional transportation links, but also regional industrial infrastructure, such as border industrial zones or shared special economic zones (SEZs), which can be instruments of regional industrial policy and hubs for the development of industrial clusters serving regional markets,” the report said.

The global shifts in FDI are expected to take a toll on manufacturing, which is facing the consequences of “deglobalization.” “This is evidenced not only by reduced FDI but also by reduced trade in intermediate inputs.”

Analysts have noted that “decoupling” of the US and China could hurt Philippine trade, with manufacturers relying on demand from both countries. China is also a crucial sorce of imports for the Philippines.

Instead of “competing” with its ASEAN neighbors, the Philippines must move to integrate its markets with the region, Ateneo de Manila economics professor Leonardo A. Lanzona said.

“To strengthen our FDI from within ASEAN, we then need to engage more in cooperative forms of production and to try to participate more in value chains that are developed within ASEAN,” he said in a Messenger chat. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Pio Abad makes Turner Prize shortlist

source: ASHMOLEAN NOW: PIO ABAD | Ashmolean Museum | Link: https://shorturl.at/iuNW4

Filipino-British artist Pio Abad has made the shortlist for the United Kingdom’s Turner Prize.

Also in the shortlist for the annual prize are Claudette Johnson, Jasleen Kaur, and Delaine Le Bas. Considered the UK’s most prestigious award for contemporary art, the Turner Prize turns 40 this year. Among the past winners are Anish Kapoor, Antony Gormley, Rachel Whiteread, Damien Hirst, and Steve McQueen.

Each year the Turner Prize jury shortlists four British artists for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation, explains the Tate Britain website. The prize was founded in 1984.

Abad confirmed the honor in an Instagram post.

“The secret is finally out… BEYOND THRILLED to be nominated for the TURNER PRIZE alongside Claudette Johnson, Jasleen Kaur, and Delaine Le Bas [a series of three alternating brain blown and celebratory emojis]. The nomination is for my current exhibition “To Those Sitting in Darkness” at the @asmoleanmuseum. I share this honor with my community of makers, custodians and storytellers who made this exhibition possible: @fwj_studio my collaborator in art and life, curator @_lena_fritsch_, Agnes Valencak and the Ashmolean team, @carlos villaart, @mkvalledor and @riorocket, @j_aisha2014 and the @sinagtalaweavers. Maraming maraming salamat [prayer and heart emojis].”

The Tate Britain said that an exhibition of the shortlisted artists’ work will be held at the museum from Sept. 25 to Feb. 16, 2025. The winner will be announced at an awarding ceremony at the museum on Dec. 3.

“Pio Abad examines the personal and political entanglements of and within objects,” says his artist’s bio on the website of Silverlens, which represents the artist in the Philippines. “Through a wide-ranging practice encompassing drawing, painting, textiles, installation, and text, Abad mines repressed historical events and offers counternarratives to draw out threads of complicity between incidents, ideologies, and people. Deeply informed by unfolding events in the Philippines, his work emanates from a personal family chronicle woven into the nation’s story.”

 

THE NOMINEES

Pio Abad. He was nominated for his solo exhibition To Those Sitting in Darkness at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. “Abad’s work considers cultural loss and colonial histories, often reflecting on his upbringing in the Philippines,” states the Turner nomination announcement, which goes on to describe the exhibit. “His exhibition includes drawing, etchings and sculptures which depict, juxtapose and transform artefacts from Oxford museums, highlighting their overlooked histories and drawing parallels with familiar household items,” says the statement.

“The jury commended the precision and elegance with which Abad combines research with new artistic work to ask questions of museums. They also remarked on both the sensitivity and clarity with which he brings history into the present.”

 

Claudette Johnson. She was nominated for two exhibits: her solo exhibition Presence at The Courtauld Gallery, London, and Drawn Out at Ortuzar Projects, New York. “Johnson is noted for her figurative portraits of Black women and men in a combination of pastels, gouache and watercolor,” said the Tate. “Countering the marginalization of Black people in Western art history, Johnson shifts perspectives and invests her portraits of family and friends with a palpable sense of presence.

“In a year that the jury felt represented a milestone in her practice, they were struck by Johnson’s sensitive and dramatic use of line, color, space and scale to express empathy and intimacy with her subjects.”

 

Jasleen Kaur. She was nominated for her solo exhibition Alter Altar at Tramway, Glasgow. “Exploring cultural inheritance, solidarity and autobiography, Kaur created sculptures from everyday objects, each animated through an immersive sound composition, giving them an uncanny illusion of life. Objects including family photos, an Axminster carpet, a vintage Ford Escort covered in a giant doily, Irn-Bru and kinetic hand bells were orchestrated to convey the artist’s upbringing in Glasgow’s Sikh community,” said the Tate.

“The jury praised the artist’s evocative combination of sound and sculpture to address specifics of family memory and community struggle.”

 

Delaine Le Bas. She was nominated for her presentation Incipit Vita Nova. Here Begins The New Life/A New Life Is Beginning at Secession, Vienna. “Le Bas transformed the gallery into an immersive performative environment hung with painted fabrics and filled with theatrical costumes and sculptures. Drawing on the rich cultural history of the Roma people and her interest in mythologies, the artist addressed themes of death, loss and renewal, inspired by the passing of her grandmother,” said the nomination announcement.

“Noting Le Bas’s boldness at this moment in her practice, the jury were impressed by the energy and immediacy present in this exhibition, and its powerful expression of making art in a time of chaos.”

“It is an honor to announce such a fantastic shortlist of artists and I cannot wait to see their exhibition at Tate Britain this autumn,” Alex Farquharson, Director of Tate Britain and chair of the Turner Prize jury said. “All four of them make work that is full of life. They show how contemporary art can fascinate, surprise and move us, and how it can speak powerfully of complex identities and memories, often through the subtlest of details. In the Turner Prize’s 40th year, this shortlist proves that British artistic talent is as rich and vibrant as ever.”

The Turner Prize winner will be awarded £25,000 with £10,000 awarded to the other shortlisted artists. — AAH

More monitors deployed to detect substandard construction materials

OFFICE OF REP. ERIC GO YAP

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it will be deploying more teams to monitor the sale of substandard construction materials, calling their distribution “rampant” all over the country.

“Right now, we are working very closely with industry groups in cement and steel as one of our primary campaigns because the use of substandard construction materials is a consumer protection issue,” Trade Assis-tant Secretary Amanda Marie F. Nograles said at a recent media briefing.

She said that the monitoring of materials like steel, cement, wood, and glass will be included in the scope of the DTI’s Task Force Kalasag.

“Right now, more people are building homes, so there is a need for our heightened efforts against substandard construction materials,” she added.

She said that some retailers are offering consumers a substandard option when buying construction materials.

As a result, “there will now be more teams. The DTI was given an additional budget for that. So, Task Force Kalasag, in conjunction with the existing regional office and enforcement teams, will do the monitoring,” she added.

The penalties for those caught selling substandard materials include confiscation of the products, fines of up to P300,000, or jail time if a prosecutor opts to pusue charges.

“That is the only penalty for deceptive sales that the DTI under the Consumer Act, which is a fine of P100,000 to P300,000. That is why we also want to review the penalties to really make them act as a deterrent,” she said.

Asked where the substandard materials appear to be proliferating, she cited the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon.

She said that the DTI is studying a plan to release a of brands and products consistently found to be offering substandard products.

“So that is the next step that we are exploring, if we could release a notice to the consumers about the brands that are substandard so that our consumers will be informed,” she added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

BCDA dividends remitted to Treasury double to P1.1 billion off 2023 earnings

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has remitted P1.1 billion to the Bureau of the Treasury, doubling the dividends it remitted a year earlier.

This was compared with the BCDA’s remittance of P527 million last year from earnings booked in 2022. The BCDA’s dividends since its creation have amounted to P9.6 billion.

“The BCDA’s higher dividend remittance to the National Government reflects its sustained good financial standing amid efficient revenue generation and expenditure management,” BCDA President and Chief Execu-tive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang said in a statement Wednesday.

“This year, we are remitting more than the share mandated by the law as testament to our commitment to nation building,” he added.

According to the BCDA, the P1.1 billion dividend it remitted this year represents 75% of its net earnings in 2023.

Under Republic Act No. 7656 or the Dividend Law, all government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) must remit to the National Government at least 50% of their net earnings as dividends.

The BCDA also remitted to the Treasury guarantee fees for the load of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and proceeds of its asset disposition program, which was distributed to beneficiary agencies including the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In a separate statement, the BCDA said three of its projects were among the high-impact projects offered to US and Japanese investors in the proposed Luzon Economic Corridor.

The Luzon Economic Corridor is a component of the Group of Seven Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (G7 PGII).

A shared commitment between France, Germany, Italy, Japan, US, UK, and Canada, G7 PGII aims to advance investments in sustainable, inclusive, resilient and quality infrastructure by mobilizing up to $600 billion in fi-nancing for low- and middle-income countries by 2027.

The three projects are the Subic-Clark Railway, the expansion of Clark International Airport, and the Clark National Food Hub. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

PHL dairy imports drop 17% in 2023 — FAO

REUTERS

PHILIPPINE DAIRY imports declined to 2.32 million metric tons (MT) milk equivalent in 2023 due to a drop in exports from major dairy producing countries, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said.

In a report, the FAO said that imports declined 17.7% from 2.81 million MT a year earlier.

It added that dairy importing economies like China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan saw significant volume drops.

It said the decline in global dairy exports was led by the US, whose shipments fell to 12.56 million MT, down 11.3% from a year earlier.

“Several other large producers, such as Australia, Türkiye, and Argentina, reported significant export drops, while New Zealand and the European Union gained the most,” the FAO said.

Imports of skim milk powder to the Philippines also declined due to higher prices.

“Currency depreciations induced some countries to lower (skim milk powder) purchases, such as the Philippines, where imports reached an eight-year low in 2023,” the report added.

Skim milk powder is mainly used in condensed milk, evaporated milk and other dairy products.

The Philippines can meet less than 1% of its milk demand from domestic production, with the rest needing to be imported.

In 2023, Philippine dairy production was 17,850 MT, or about 0.8% of milk consumption of 1.94 million MT. The dairy cow herd was 75,798 head in 2023.

The government is aiming to increase dairy production to 80 million liters of milk per year by 2028. — Adrian H. Halili

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