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Making Christmas shopping easier with personal shoppers

RUSTAN’S just might be a guiding star for gifts this season, announcing store renovations and an expanded personal shopper service during a press conference last week.

Rustan Commercial Corp. Bienvenido “Donnie” Tantoco III appeared on a Zoom call on Oct. 6 with a portrait of his grandfather and namesake, Rustan’s co-founder former ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco behind him. The senior Mr. Tantoco passed away earlier this year at the age of 100. (https://www.bworldonline.com/rustans-founder-bienvenido-tantoco-sr-100/)

“How truly wonderful it is to be together again. I believe that after all that has happened, all of whom we have lost these past 20 months, togetherness like this… one as real but also as imperfect as the family and community that is gathered together like this… is something we will not take for granted for the rest of our days,” said Mr. Tantoco.

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic precludes most physical get-togethers, Rustan’s has adapted by offering contact-free shopping and other services that will help its customers arrange for celebrating Christmas with family and friends despite quarantine restrictions.

First, Dina Tantoco, Marketing and Communications Manager for Rustan Commercial Corp., introduced the expansion of their personal shopper program.

The Gift List Management service allows customers to send their gift list to Rustan’s personal shoppers who can look for the gift choices, assist in the transaction process, and set the delivery to the buyer’s or the recipients’ houses.

Rustan’s also offers Assisted Shopping services, in which customers can schedule an appointment with a store personnel to assist them during their physical store visit. On the other hand, patrons can also opt to go on a virtual store tour, which allows them to view items found at Rustan’s stores via video call with a personal shopper. Right now, Ms. Tantoco says that they currently have more than 117 personal shoppers. One media guest on the Zoom call had tried out the service and explained how a personal shopper helped her choose a Christmas tree via a video call.

Rustan’s also unveiled its Christmas Village, a one-stop shop located at the 5th Level of Rustan’s Makati with Christmas trees, ornaments, lights, wreaths, garlands, pillow covers, table napkins, and other holiday-themed items. Rustan’s Flower Shop also includes its wide selection of festive décor. The specialty shop also offers food boxes, made in partnership with Gourmet Garage, and Marks & Spencer. Items from brands Theo & Philo, Ferrero Rocher, and Moet & Chandon will also be available for purchase. The Christmas Village is now open until Dec. 31.

Mr. Tantoco acknowledged the boom of online shopping since quarantine restrictions were put in place was a challenge. “We kind of stumbled,” he said, in the beginning. But there have been improvements to their online shopping infrastructure, where he was proud to say that 95% of purchases were able to be delivered in two days; and some of them were delivered to customers in less than 24 hours. “He fixed it,” he said, speaking about his cousin, Rustan’s Vice-President for Store Planning and Expansion, Michael Huang. “We have a very, very good system of logistics and fulfillment right now.”

“We’re not going to stay still… we’re going to try to be better,” he said.

Rustan’s Makati, the company’s flagship store, is currently undergoing renovations. The renovated first floor will be ready by the end of next year with the rest of the floors to follow. Mr. Tantoco explained that his aunt, Zenaida Tantoco, chair and CEO of the Rustan Group, and Michael Huang are leading the renovations. “[S]he’s making the store much more experiential. It’s the experience that is going to bring you out,” he said. — Joseph L. Garcia

Audit firm calls on companies: Put sustainability at forefront

FIRMS should consider sustainability as part of their business goals and not just as a way of complying with requirements from regulators, an audit firm said as companies are gearing up for the submission of sustainability reports this year.

“I believe the number one pain point is that many companies may have yet to embrace sustainability as part of their advocacies or purposes. Hence, it may be difficult to prepare their sustainability reports,” Christopher M. Ferareza, partner at P&A Grant Thorton’s Audit & Assurance and Advisory, said in an e-mail last week.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released its own sustainability reporting guidelines for publicly listed companies in 2019. These are laid out in SEC Memorandum Circular No. 4. Companies are to fill out the report forms through a “comply or explain approach,” where firms are expected to explain their noncompliance for some items.

More publicly listed companies have adopted the sustainability reporting system, P&A Grant Thorton said, after seeing “90.4% in 2019 for the 2020 reports to 91.07% for the 2021 reports.”

“I believe companies who have already integrated [or fully embraced] sustainability in their operations would prefer to use their own templates, but based of course on generally accepted standards such as GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), IIRC (International Integrated Reporting Council) [and] SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board), [which have recently merged], and TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures),” said. Mr. Ferareza.

“Most, however, would be dependent on the template suggested by the regulator,” he added.

The SEC plans to make sustainability reporting for listed companies mandatory come 2023.

To encourage more companies to comply with sustainability reporting, Mr. Ferareza said “giving various incentives both financial and nonfinancial” would be a good start.

“In Japan, which is the global leader in sustainability reporting, the financial incentives to achieve a carbon-neutral [or net-zero] society seems to be working very well,” he said.

Mr. Ferareza noted that some of the challenges is the lack of a sustainability reporting expert within a firm’s ranks, on top of “a possible conflict of interest among companies engaged in businesses that pose harm to the environment or society.”

This is where the role of independent auditors would be vital, he said.

“We usually know the business inside out so it’s easier for us to marry financial and nonfinancial aspects of the business operation,” Mr. Ferareza said.

Corporates are reminded to not only focus on profits, but also to keep sustainability as one of the pillars of their businesses.

“This means that if a reporting entity remains solely focused on profits, its sustainability reporting remains solely for compliance,” Mr. Ferareza said. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

adidas x Quiccs Forum Low set for release this week

THE QUICCS Forum, the latest collaboration between Filipino toy designer and visual artist Juanito “Quiccs” Maiquez and global sportswear brand adidas, will be available beginning Oct. 15 for P6,500.

THE LATEST collaboration between Filipino toy designer and visual artist Juanito “Quiccs” Maiquez and global sportswear brand adidas is set for release this week.

The Quiccs Forum, a reimagined iteration of the brand’s iconic Forum Low silhouette, will be available beginning Oct. 15 for P6,500.

It is the third collaborative project between the artist and adidas from their partnership which began last year, after the Quiccs Manila Tees and the widely successful Harden Vol. 5 “Manila Heritage” colorway.

The shoe also comes after the launch of the Fall/Winter 2021 Forum collection in July, which is also a redesigned set of the silhouette, both low and mid-top models, and anchored on the push for “inclusiveness” and “openness to new ideas and concepts.”

In coming up with the design for the Forum Low, Quiccs sought to stay with adidas’ vision of embracing an open attitude to life and redefining the style of the future.

“Since the beginning of this partnership, I have said how I would like to be able to show and inspire other people that through passion, patience and hard work, one can build their dreams into a reality,” said Quiccs in a release.

“‘Earning my stripes’ was an opportunity I only used to dream of, and now I am living it, and I am honored to share with my fellow Filipinos — and the rest of the world — an iconic adidas Originals silhouette featuring a design that was a product of my passion and creativity,” added the designer, whose version of the Forum marked the first time that a Filipino has designed an adidas Originals shoe.

The Quiccs Forum Low features striking red stripes that represent the “Stripes Earned” through Quiccs’ passion. It infuses the shoe’s classic look with the designer’s own branding, which adidas touts as a perfect representation of the Forum’s call to experiment with self-expression and new ideas.

Elements that are unique to Quiccs as a designer are all over the shoe, such as his crossbones logo and “TEQ63,” his signature character that makes an appearance in the reflective 3M upper and as a logo on the gold metal deubre — an ornamental shoelace tag — and the back heel.

As a personal touch, the Quiccs Forum tongue also features the phrase “It Was All A Dream” and date “01.21.20,” representing the official start of Quiccs’ partnership with adidas and his feeling of gratitude and disbelief in fulfilling his dream.

A feature unique to the Forum franchise, the Quiccs Forum straps come in three interchangeable strap designs, giving its wearers more options for self-expression and style exploration.

Having experienced warm a reception for products designed by Quiccs, adidas hopes his Forum Low will enjoy the same and serve as an inspiration for others to continue pursuing their passions.

“We saw how much Filipinos and consumers all over the world from Singapore, Hong Kong, and especially the US, looked forward to seeing and owning Quiccs’ work through the Quiccs Manila Tees and the Harden Vol. 5 ‘Manila Heritage,’ and so it was no question that we wanted him to have his own take and colorway for the very first adidas Originals designed by a Filipino,” said John David Cortez, Manager of Brand Communications and Sports Marketing for adidas Philippines.

“We hope that the Quiccs Forum is able to inspire the new generation to keep pursuing their passions until they, too, earn their stripes.”

The adidas Quiccs Forum will be available at adidas.com.ph, the adidas App, and adidas stores in select countries. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

PSE approves Megawide’s P4-billion follow-on offering

BW FILE PHOTO

THE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) approved the P4-billion follow-on offering (FOO) of Megawide Construction Corp. on Friday, just hours after the company also received the go signal from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“The exchange approved the application of [Megawide] for the listing of up to 40,000,000 preferred shares, subject of the [FOO] of the company, at an offer price of P100 per offer share,” the PSE said in a listing notice.

Megawide’s base offering consists of 30 million Series 4 preferred shares, with an overallotment option of 10 million Series 4 preferred shares. It may raise up to P4 billion in proceeds should the overallotment option be exercised.

The listed engineering and construction development firm plans to use the net proceeds from the offer to redeem its Series 1 preferred shares due on Dec. 3.

Its offer period will run from Oct. 13 to 19, while its tentative listing date is set on Oct. 29. The offer shares will be listed under the ticker symbol, “MWP4.”

“The exchange’s approval of the listing of the MWP4 Shares is subject to the company’s compliance with all of the conditions and post-approval requirements of the exchange,” the PSE said.

Megawide engaged RCBC Capital Corp. as the sole issue manager, lead underwriter, and bookrunner for the offer, while PNB Capital and Investment Corp. was assigned co-lead underwriter.

On Friday, shares of Megawide at the stock exchange closed higher by 0.48% or three centavos to finish at P6.28 apiece. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

Rates of T-bills, bonds may rise on concerns over high inflation

BUREAU OF THE TREASURY FACEBOOK PAGE

RATES of government securities may inch up this week on inflation concerns and hawkish signals from the US Federal Reserve.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) will auction off P15 billion in Treasury bills (T-bills) on Monday, broken down into P5 billion each in 91-, 182- and 364-day debt papers.

On Tuesday, it will offer P35 billion in reissued five-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) with a remaining life of four years and five months.

Two bond traders said T-bill rates will likely continue to move sideways, with the first trader adding that there could be a slight upward bias from the previous auction.

“Demand may continue to be evident across the three tenors with investors still looking to park their excess liquidity at the immediate part of the curve,” the first trader said in a Viber message.

For the longer-tenored T-bonds, the first trader said the average rate of the five-year notes on offer on Tuesday could range from 3.25% to 3.35%, while the second trader gave a higher estimate band of 3.35% to 3.55%.

Both traders said dealers are awaiting more signals from the US Federal Reserve on the timing of its plan to taper its monthly asset purchases.

The Fed has said it could start reducing its monthly bond purchases as soon as November and signaled interest rate increases may follow more quickly than expected.

At home, the traders said the market remains concerned over elevated inflation.

“Some…inflationary pressures such as the rise in global oil prices and Meralco’s (Manila Electric Co.) power rate hike announcement this month have kept the market off the edge, with local bond yields adjusting higher,” the first trader said.

Headline inflation stood at 4.8% in September, slowing from the 4.9% logged in August but faster than the 2.3% print recorded in the same month last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported last week.

September’s inflation print hit the lower end of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ 4.8%-5.6% forecast range that month.

Average inflation for the first nine months reached 4.5%, above the central bank’s 2-4% target and 4.4% forecast this year.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported on Friday that oil prices rose as industries switch to oil from high price gas and on doubts that the US government would release oil from its strategic reserves. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures went up 1.1% to $79.14 a barrel, while Brent crude futures climbed 1% to $82.75 a barrel.

The BTr made a full award of the T-bills it offered last week even as rates climbed across the board due to lingering inflation fears.

Broken down, the government raised P5 billion as planned via the 91-day debt papers from P13.01 billion in bids. The three-month T-bills fetched an average rate of 1.085%, up by 2.5 basis points (bps) from the 1.06% seen the week before.

It also borrowed the programmed P5 billion via the 182-day T-bills as the tenor attracted bids worth P22.42 billion. The six-month paper’s average yield rose by 0.6 bp to 1.391% from 1.385% a week earlier.

Lastly, the Treasury made a full P5-billion award of the 364-day debt papers from P20.93 billion in tenders. The one-year securities fetched an average rate of 1.584%, climbing by 0.2 bp from the 1.582% quoted at the previous week’s offering.

Meanwhile, the last time the BTr auctioned off the reissued five-year T-bonds on offer on Tuesday was on Sept. 1, when it made a full P35-billion award of the papers from P76.167 billion in tenders.

The debt papers fetched an average rate of 2.746% at that auction, dropping by 54.9 basis points from the 3.295% logged in the previous offering. This was also lower than the 3.375% coupon for the series.

The BTr is looking to raise P200 billion from the local market this month: P60 billion from weekly offers of T-bills and P140 billion from weekly auctions of T-bonds.

The government wants to borrow P3 trillion from domestic and external sources this year to help fund a budget deficit seen to hit 9.3% of gross domestic product. — Jenina P. Ibañez with Reuters

Going beyond 10.10

YOU might think the 10.10 sales are over, but Lazada’s own 10.10 sale is stretching to the 14th of October (or 10.14, as the kids might say it).

Lazada’s 10.10 sale is set around big brands, with participating brands including Lego, Unilever, Huawei, Nike, Procter and Gamble, and SC Johnson, among many others. Lazada is also unveiling two new features: 10% cashback, and premium offers from LazMall Prestige Flagship Stores like Jo Malone, NARS, Lanvin, Narciso Rodriguez (among others). Lazada is also reinforcing its “100% Legit or get 2x money back guarantee,” free shipping vouchers, 30-day returns, Lazada Bonus Discount Vouchers at P50 off for every P500 spend, and up to 90% off on authentic brands.

Among the item categories that have sold more during this second year of the pandemic, said Lazada Chief Marketing Officer Neil Trinidad during a Zoom press conference last week, were essentials, hobbies, baking supplies, gym clothes and equipment, gardening supplies, women’s clothing and loungewear, and lighting and decor.

He also said that they’ve seen twice as many orders as from before the pandemic. “We’re seeing sustained growth month on month,” he said. So they are ”continually expanding” their assortment of brands, along with an expansion of their network beyond the Greater Manila Area, onboarding sellers and communities in the Visayas and Mindanao.

During the Zoom event, they introduced their new brand ambassador, actress Bea Alonzo, who appears in a commercial for Lazada with Korean star and regional brand ambassador Hyun Bin. Ms. Alonzo said that her Lazada shopping cart has a wide range of products: from camera accessories to kitchenware. ”Wala yata akong favorites (I don’t think I have favorites). I shop them all,” she said during the press conference. The first thing she had ever bought off Lazada, she said, was a tent which she used to change outfits in during shoots. “It came on time!”

Speaking about their future plans, Mr. Trinidad said, ”Surprising our fans is something that we always look forward to. All I can say is that after 10.10, we still have 11.11 and 12.12 to go.”

For more information about Lazada’s 10.10 – 10.14 deals, visit lzd.co/LazMallBigBrandsSale. — J.L. Garcia

Filinvest REIT obtains safety seal for most buildings

THE real estate investment trust (REIT) of Filinvest Land, Inc. has obtained the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) safety seal certificate for most of the buildings included in its initial portfolio.

Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILRT) is confident that the demand for its office spaces will improve as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases continue to decline while the country goes on with its vaccination program.

“Multinational firms will not risk disrupting their business operations by shifting to an entirely [work-from-home] setup, so we are confident that demand for office space will continue to grow,” FILRT President and Chief Executive Officer Maricel Brion-Lirio said in an e-mailed statement on Sunday.

FILRT said it expects more information technology and business process outsourcing firms to operate onsite or in their office spaces.

“Majority of the multinational locators said prolonged lack of face-to-face interaction, social isolation, and reduced camaraderie among employees pose a threat to mental health,” Ms. Brion-Lirio said.

FILRT has 16 office buildings in Northgate Cyberzone in Filinvest City in Alabang, which are said to be equipped with 100% backup power, security, and the fiber optic cable system.

The company said, “nearly all FILRT buildings” have obtained the DoLE safety seal certificate, meaning the establishment was deemed compliant with the minimum public health standards following an inspection from the government on top of having the required business permits. Its buildings also use the StaySafe.ph app as its contact tracing log.

On Friday, shares of FILRT at the stock market went up by 0.69% or five centavos to close at P7.30 apiece. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

It’s time for T

PHOTO FROM MG PHILIPPINES

MG PHL presents the turbocharged ZS crossover

IT’S BUT APROPOS for MG Philippines to provide more choices for the model that catapulted it into the imagination and consideration set of many on the hunt for an affordable, value-for-money vehicle. The China-headquartered brand with a decidedly British heritage made a splash via the ZS which “to this day… remains a perennial crowd favorite (and is) currently at the top of the five-seater SUV-B segment in the Philippines,” according to a company release.

“When we launched the MG brand in 2018, our goal was clear: To be part of the exciting and growing Philippine automotive market, and to provide Filipinos with stylish, modern, and safe vehicles — but at very attainable price points,” said MG Philippines President and CEO Atty. Alberto B. Arcilla. “The local market’s reception has been very encouraging, indeed. In just three years, more Filipinos have chosen MG, and there are now over 10,000 MGs on our roads, with (many) of those being the ever-popular ZS crossover SUV.”

And so, MG Philippines wisely revisits its popular crossover nameplate and gives it a veritable shot in the arm through an additional (and more exciting) trim. The MG ZS T (for Trophy) comes with a new, three-cylinder 1.3-liter engine. Now before you go ballistic with the mention of three cylinders and an almost paltry-sounding 1.3, bear in mind that this power plant is turbocharged. Yes, “T” might as well stand for “turbocharged” as well — allowing the ZS to neigh with the power of 160 horses and 230Nm of torque. This power plant is mated with a new six-speed automatic transmission with manual sport mode.

Even as it takes its place at the very top of the ZS totem pole (above the Core MT, Style AT, and Alpha AT) in terms of power and accoutrements, the ZS T is priced at a still-reasonable P1,158,888. Now available at all 39 MG dealers, the variant also assumes the “updated global design language.”

On the outside, the ZS T receives the new, good-looking Obsidian Matrix Grille, flanked by full-LED projector headlamps. Lending a premium look are daytime running lamps, and 17-inch two-tone Tomahawk design alloy wheels upon which wide, low-profile tires are affixed.

Red brake calipers heighten the sporty appearance, as do gloss-black exterior door panel accents, a widened front air dam, and new body lines. “With these, among other features, the ZS T conveys a presence that is both striking and impressive; but still very approachable, and youthful in spirit,” the car maker said.

Perhaps most obvious among the updates within the cabin is the so-called Goggles Visual Instrument Cluster — a fully digital information center for the driver — that brings the ZS into the company of vehicles in more expensive price points.

The ZS T also boasts “carefully placed soft touch surfaces on the steering wheel, dashboard, center console, door panels, and other high-contact areas.” MG stitches red thread on the seats and other areas, and affixes embroidered MG monograms on the driver and front passenger headrests. Along with multiple storage compartments is a thoughtful dedicated USB port behind the rearview mirror for quicker and neater dashcam installation.

The T’s infotainment system is platformed on a 10.1-inch non-reflective high-definition touchscreen, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Hooked up are six speakers. Rear occupants get their own A/C vents.

A slew of safety features include front, side, and curtain air bags; rear cross-traffic assist; lane change assist; cornering lamps (built into the fog lamps); hill hold control; cornering brake control; traction control; vehicle dynamic control; and more. A blind spot information system works with the ZS T’s 360-degree vehicle view.

The ZS T comes with a five-year/100,000-km (whichever comes first) warranty, and one-year free periodic maintenance service. The company adds, “MG owners can also download the My MG mobile app which allows them to easily schedule vehicle servicing appointments from the convenience of their smartphones. They can also use the app to book a visit from a Mobile Garage service caravan that provides MG owners with vehicle home service for major technical issues. MG HERO Services, on the other hand, provides 24/7 roadside support through the MG Philippines hotline (+632 5328-4664.)”

And, oh, word from The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI) — the company that oversees both MG and Chevrolet here — has it that MG is not quite done yet. TCCCI Executive Vice-President and Director for Marketing and Customer Services Lyn Manalansang-Buena exclusively told “Velocity” that the company intends to roll out one more model before 2021 is done and dusted.

From cars to ‘ARMY bombs’: Chip crunch creeps into K-pop world

TWICE Candy Bong — PHOTO FROM KPOPLIGHTSTICK.JIMDOFREE.COM/

AS TOP K-pop bands get ready to go back on stage or live stream new shows after being sidelined by the pandemic, their fans discover the global chip crisis has also caught up with the world of catchy tunes, glitzy outfits, and elaborate dance routines.

Light sticks, a must-have accessory for hard-core enthusiasts of South Korean pop, have become pricier and harder to get due to the shortage that has hit production of anything from smartphones to cars.

The glowing wands fans wave during concerts and virtual events are fitted with so-called microcontrollers for power management and to pair with a phone to change colors, and highlight how far the squeeze has rippled through various industries and aspects of everyday life.

The price of light sticks, used by “ARMY” or fans of mega-band BTS and referred to as “ARMY bombs,” has increased by $2 to $59 from Oct. 1, Hybe entertainment-owned Weverse Shop said, blaming the “persistent global semiconductor shortage.”

“I sure hope prices won’t get too high since a lot of ARMY and other fans too cannot afford such prices,” said Pervushina Elizaveta, an entertainment company employee and a BTS fan from Estepona, Spain.

Fans of South Korean boy band SEVENTEEN will have to cough up $3 more for their light sticks, while supporters of acts such as EXO, SHINee, Girls’ Generation and YG Entertainment’s BlackPink are entirely out of luck. SM Entertainment’s 041510.KQ global shop said EXO, SHINee, and Girls’ Generation’s fanlights were sold out, while those of BlackPink were out of stock on the band’s official website.

Hybe, SM Entertainment, and other top Korean entertainment companies did not respond to requests for comment.

While the Grammy-nominated BTS plans to perform live in Los Angeles in November and December for the first time since the pandemic, other South Korean acts are scheduling online shows. Still, fans are looking forward to make the most of those, with light sticks on and sharing messages in chatrooms.

“It’s a fun way to feel connected to other fans all around the world so when you do get to enjoy a concert even from home you can somehow feel part of something amazing!” said Starla Stafford, a fan from Chattanooga, Tennessee.

LONG WAIT
Compounding the pain, semiconductors in light sticks are manufactured using older technologies and such low-end chips face the biggest shortage right now, said Jim Handy, an analyst with semiconductor market research firm Objective Analysis.

Wait times for semiconductor deliveries have now stretched to up to six months, compared with the usual about two months, manufacturers said.

“I bulk ordered microcontroller chips in advance, hoping live events will be back next year, because the delivery time is long,” said Ashton Jungmin Choi, a co-founder of FANLIGHT, a Seoul-based company that makes light sticks for bands such as BTS, EXO, and SuperM. He said shipping charges have gone up three times, and chips cost 30% more compared with a year ago.

“It is very difficult to get any light stick. They are always in demand and it has been impossible to get the BTS Army Bombs,” said Mette Kidal, owner of All In Kpop, a Denmark-based K-pop merchandise retailer that opened a new store in the country this month to cater to surging demand.

Fanlights of TWICE sold out faster than usual, Kidal said, after the girl group teased an upcoming tour in the final scenes of their newly released all-English single “The Feels.” — Reuters

Farm group seeks more frontline inspection of agriculture imports

PHILSTAR

By Revin Mikhael D. Ochave, Reporter

A FARMERS’ organization said a serious plan to curb smuggling of farm produce would require the stationing of Agriculture department personnel at ports of entry in order to deter misdeclared shipments.

Raul Q. Montemayor, Federation of Free Farmers national manager, told BusinessWorld via mobile phone that the new measures agreed upon by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Customs (BoC) are “just for show.”

“To control misdeclaration and undervaluation, the DA should put people in the ports to determine the exact grade and tariff lines for incoming imports so that they can be matched against the proper reference prices of BoC,” he said.

Mr. Montemayor was referring to the recent agreement between Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar and Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero to improve “second border” inspections and to form a technical working group that will review guidelines on the handling of imported food.  

In a statement over the weekend, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said all fresh and frozen agri-fishery shipments will still undergo an “open-close” examination at the port of entry, but will be subject to 100% inspection upon arrival at the “second border” or designated warehouses.

The DA added that it will work with the BoC to implement a stricter “second border” inspection and control procedures to ensure food safety, which will include an investigation into whether goods are properly declared.

“This measure will only be temporary pending the completion of the first border facilities that will be constructed by the DA at major ports, starting in Subic, to be known as a Commodity Examination Facility for Agriculture (CEFA),” Mr. Dar said.

The CEFA aims to conduct a “full and thorough inspection of containerized agricultural commodities through risk assessment, together with x-ray screening by the BoC, subjecting all agricultural and food imports to 100% sampling and laboratory testing.”

In July, the DA announced that it is set to establish the first CEFA at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. This is a change to the DA’s initial plan to construct such a facility at the Manila International Container Port, where the department’s building plans have faced delays. 

Jayson H. Cainglet, Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) executive director, said in a mobile phone message that the concept of a “second border” is unusual and not addressed by Republic Act No. 10611 or the Food Safety Act.

 “In the parlance of international trade and global markets, there is no such thing as a ‘second border’ because it is a gateway to smuggling and unsafe food and tainted agricultural products,” Mr. Cainglet said.

On Sunday, SINAG wrote to Senator Cynthia A. Villar to seek the assistance of her Senate Committee on Agriculture regarding the inspection regime for produce amid rampant vegetable smuggling.  

“We are again appealing to investigate and take to task these officials that are wanting in their duties to protect the agriculture sector, safeguard us against the entry of unsafe food and shield the country from possible public health concerns in the light of the current pandemic,” SINAG said in the letter.

“Without first border inspection, there is no way for the government to curb smuggling and makes the country more vulnerable to health pandemics, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),” it added.

Vegetable farmers have complained about the proliferation of cheap smuggled vegetables such as carrots and cabbage in Metro Manila public markets.

LYKA to apply for operator of payment system license

BW FILE PHOTO

SOCIAL MEDIA platform LYKA/Things I Like Co. Ltd. (TIL) will apply for an operator of payment system (OPS) license after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last week said its marketing arm cannot be given the license on its behalf.

“Instead of challenging the BSP’s decision before a judicial forum, LYKA has determined that the fastest resolution to the matter is to simply commence the registration of its own Philippine entity as an OPS, including setting up its own Philippine operations and equipping it with the best talent possible,” LYKA said in a letter to its partner merchants.

It assured that it will continue to honor all obligations and commitments made by its marketing arm, Digital Spring, to its partner merchants. It added that their accreditation as partners will also be honored.

LYKA said it has started to scout for a country head and a support team for its Philippine operations.

It added it will continue to cooperate with the BSP and other regulators.

The central bank on Friday said it upheld the cease-and-desist order it issued against Digital Spring in July, saying LYKA itself should register for an OPS license.

“Digital Spring applying for registration, instead of LYKA/TIL itself, is like saying the airline ticketing office can apply for a flying license on behalf of the pilot. It is the pilot who must apply for the license,” BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan said in a statement on Friday.

Through the Gift cards in Electronic Mode or GEMS on its platform, LYKA allows users to purchase, exchange, and pay for goods and services with selected merchants.

The BSP said having these services make LYKA an OPS, which means it needs to secure a regulatory license to continue operating.

The central bank earlier told the public to only engage with registered OPS. Its database posted on its website showed it has granted OPS licenses to 164 entities, while nine companies have provisional certificates of registration as of Oct. 1. — LWTN

No fees charged on agri machinery, farmers warned

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) warned farmers against persons attempting to collect fees on equipment being distributed through the government’s farm mechanization program.

PhilMech Director Baldwin G. Jallorina said in a recent virtual briefing that he has received reports of persons asking for processing fees from farm cooperatives and associations (FCAs) to facilitate the delivery of farm machinery. 

Mr. Jallorina added that facilitation fees are also being sought from the suppliers of the machinery who have been awarded supply contracts.

“We at PhilMech would like to emphasize that we never authorize nor tolerate the collection of both the processing and facilitation fees,” Mr. Jallorina said.

“FCAs that are interested to become beneficiaries under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Mechanization Program need not pay any fees to become recipients of free machinery under the program, and to avail of the training related to the program, both hands-on and online,” he added.

According to Mr. Jallorina, attempts to collect fees have been reported in Pampanga, Bulacan, and Pangasinan.

“We are still verifying the allegations. The reports we received came from the suppliers themselves and some potential beneficiaries of the program. We opted to be discreet but the issue became worse when the machinery suppliers themselves called us to verify the collection of fees,” Mr. Jallorina said.  

“We received reports as early as 2020. We are conducting an investigation and have asked the help of our staff in the field and respective local government units (LGUs),” he added.

As of Sept. 28, Mr. Jallorina said PhilMech has distributed 14,368 units of various farm machinery such as four-wheel tractors, hand tractors, and floating tillers.

RCEF has an annual allocation of P10 billion from 2019 to 2024 to help farmers become more competitive against imported rice following the passage of Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law.  

The machinery program is to receive 50% of the RCEF allocation. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

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