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It takes a village — and more — to raise disaster resilience

IN UNDER a minute of the earth’s shaking, the people of Balutakay, a coffee-farming village at the foot of Mt. Apo, saw their homes, warehouse, and processing center sustain severe damage.

It was Oct. 31, 2019 and the magnitude 6.5 tremor that struck that day was the third strong one for the month after a 6.6 just two days prior and 6.3 on the 16th.

The 170 families in Balutakay, many of them members of the Balutakay Coffee Farmers Association (BACOFA), evacuated.

And there is no going back as their community has been declared by authorities as a no-live zone.

Among them is Marivic Dubria, the BACOFA manager who would have considered 2019 one of the best years ever as she represented the country in April at the Specialty Coffee Exposition in Boston after topping the Arabica Category of the year’s Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC). In 2018, she ranked 2nd.

At a media forum in Davao City after her PCQC award, Ms. Dubria talked excitedly about promoting the community’s coffee to a global audience, the value of contributing to local industry, and inspiring fellow farmers to aim for superior produce that will fetch higher prices.

Joji Felicitas B. Pantoja, founder and chief executive officer of social enterprise Coffee for Peace, Inc., which has been working with BANOFA since 2013, said the enterprise is as heartbroken as the people in the village that they have seen work hard and grow.

In an interview with BusinessWorld, Ms. Pantoja narrated the grief and worry of the families, who set up temporary shelters around the nearby Malipayon processing center of Coffee for Peace.

“Nanay Teresing, one of the community leaders and also among the top 10 champion farmers, looked really dazed and worried. They don’t know what will happen to them. Can they go back to the farm? Because the coffee (trees) are there,” she said, speaking in mixed English and Filipino.

Jobelyn Basas, field network director of Peacebuilders Community, Inc., a partner organization of Coffee for Peace, said local officials allow the BACOFA members, in small groups and only during daytime, to go back to the area to harvest as there are abundant quantities that are ripe for picking.

“So far they have not declared it a no-farm zone,” she said, although some of the farmers are too traumatized to take the risk.

Ms. Basas also noted that aside from the Balutakay residents, another 450 families from the neighboring Bagobo-Tagabawa indigenous community, mostly with members who are trained and involved in the coffee post-harvest process, have also been affected.

These over 600 families from Davao del Sur province are among the more than 71,000 affected by the October earthquakes, which were felt in most parts of Mindanao and left Cotabato province, the epicenter area, the hardest hit.

As of end-November, data from the national disaster management council show over 13,000 families are still in 107 evacuation centers while almost 25,000 others who have been displaced but are not in the temporary shelters are also being given assistance.

DISASTER DEPARTMENT
The Mindanao earthquakes —which came after similarly strong tremors last year in the Batanes islands in July and in Central Luzon in April, alongside the average 20 typhoons that sweep through the country every year — have prompted the Senate to make the proposal to create a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) a priority.

Lyndon L. Ancajas, administrative training chief of the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC), said whatever final version of the proposed law will be passed, what is crucial is improving access to national funding for local governments, particularly small towns.

“I read a few versions and it looks good… especially the funds in store for those municipalities that have a very small budget for DRRM,” he said.

In the case of a big city like Davao, which is also a pioneer in a centralized response system through its 911 hub, Mr. Ancajas said what the city has been working on is expanding and strengthening an even more localized response system to “ensure that all bases are covered.”

“Various offices of the city government are encouraged to create their own disaster action team… This is to enhance and intensify disaster preparedness,” he said.

Cotabato Vice-Governor Emmylou T. Mendoza, who previously served as governor for three terms and was acting governor when the earthquakes struck, said the creation of a DDR should mean having a “more focused approach for interventions and coordination.”

“In our experience, for as long as we follow the disaster protocol and line of command, there will be no overlap (in functions),” she said, citing how the various national agencies helped Cotabato through the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC).

“This is okay pa naman (so far), maybe we just need to strengthen it. But of course, I can’t speak for the experiences of the other LGUs (local government units) or areas hit by calamity,” Ms. Mendoza said.

Peacebuilders President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel A. Pantoja — who has been on the ground for the earthquake relief assessment and was involved in past post-calamity activities such as in super typhoon Haiyan in the Visayas, typhoon Pablo (Bopha) in Mindanao, and the Marawi City siege — said he can attest to how disasters are often “politicized,” usually at the local government level, which is at the front lines of emergency response.

“Hopefully the DDR will be able to transcend local politics,” he said.

“And hopefully the DDR will not lead to ‘disaster capitalism,’” he added, referring to how rehabilitation programs for both natural and man-made calamities, in many cases, leave the most vulnerable victims even more marginalized.

An official of the Department of National Defense’s Office of Civil Defense, which serves as the implementing arm of the NDRRMC, has cautioned legislators about a DDR that would end up with “overwhelming” functions.

OCD Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, at a Nov. 11 Senate panel meeting on the proposed new department, noted that disaster management involves many aspects, from preparedness to response to reconstruction.

“That would be a very big function to be placed under one department,” Mr. Jalad said, and suggested that the DDR focus on the planning aspect.

“Lead role can be assigned to the department. For the implementation, it would still rely on the lead agencies,” he said.

DATA-BASED MODEL
The National Resilience Council (NRC), a private sector-led initiative launched in October 2017, recognizes the primary role of LGUs in overall disaster management.

The NRC, with its goal of strengthening public-private sector collaboration and building up LGU capacity, has named Iloilo City as its first model locality on developing disaster resilience.

NRC President Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said Iloilo was chosen because of the existing strong collaboration between the LGU, the private sector, and the science and technology community.

“Iloilo has a very good foundation for how evidence-based risk governance can actually be part of the sustainability of the city,” she said in an interview in the city.

The three-year Adopt-a-City program for Iloilo is a multi-sector endeavor involving the academe, particularly various universities in the Visayas, national agencies, private companies, and foreign experts.

On Dec. 2, the city government signed a memorandum of cooperation with the NRC, Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction, and the Manila Observatory for the establishment of the first locally-based disaster information system.

On the same day, an agreement was also signed for the Smart Sensor Network, which also involves national agencies, alongside the universities, and private firms Alliance Global Group, Megaworld Iloilo, and SM City Iloilo.

“Today’s agreements are complementary to the science and technology as well as leadership and governance goals of our Local Government Systems Program for Iloilo City. What we’re trying to do is provide a system of environmental monitoring, a way to gather data through the networks and equipment both for climate, weather, and earthquake events,” Ms. Loyzaga said.

Manila Observatory Executive Director Gemma T. Narisma said data is important, especially for developing cities, to address the increasing risks of climate change and disasters.

“Things are changing not only in terms of the hazards but also in terms of hazards and vulnerabilities as the city continues to develop, so even now it is important to have this data… We should look at them, study them and try to see what development pathways should Iloilo do so that it will lead to a more resilient future,” she said.

Iloilo CDRRM Office head Donna P. Magno said the disaster resilience program is not just about the local government’s readiness and capacity, but having an informed and prepared population.

“We are frequently exposed to many hazards such as typhoon, flooding, fire, storm surge, and earthquakes; that is why we are stepping up our efforts to reduce the risk of the disasters and improve the competencies of the residents,” Ms. Magno told BusinessWorld.

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said apart from residents, disaster resilience is also about protecting investments in the city.

“We need to be resilient not only to make sure that our people will be safe but also investors,” he said.

Ms. Magno said a DDR would be most welcome as another partner “to achieve our dream of becoming a resilience model,” and at the same time noted that disaster management ultimately starts with ‘self help.’”

“Since the first level of disaster management is ‘self-help’… we are really aggressive in terms of our community education programs,” she said.

BACOFA, a community proud of its achievements and full of optimism in the continued growth of the coffee venture, is getting sufficient relief and short-term help from private sector partners, including its network of foreign buyers, according to Ms. Pantoja.

But its future — where the residents will be relocated, the timeframe for setting up new houses, the fate of the farms, the site for rebuilding the coffee processing facilities — rests largely on decisions that will be made by the government.

Ms. Pantoja said given the public sector’s poor track record in implementing rehabilitation programs, the people of Balutakay feel insecure about what lies ahead.

“They ask, ‘Ano na (Now what)?’”

She said it is possible having a DDR would improve the system. And should there be one, she said it must be “pro-people” above anything else.

“Human dignity,” Ms. Pantoja said, must be at the core of disaster resilience. — Marifi S. Jara, Maya M. Padillo, and Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

Megaworld adding more office spaces in Iloilo’s business park

MEGAWORLD Corp. is building two new office towers in the Iloilo Business Park to expand its office portfolio in the urbanized city in Visayas.

The listed property developer said in a statement over the weekend it is adding 78,000 square meters to its office portfolio of almost 65,000 square meters in Iloilo.

This will be comprised of two buildings with 12 stories each, which will be called Enterprise One and Enterprise Two. Megaworld said it will be registered for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Megaworld Premier Offices First Vice-President Roland Tiongson said the demand for office spaces in Iloilo Business Park kept “steadily growing” over the past years, pushing the company to continue investing in this type of development.

“Most of the companies that want to set up operations in Iloilo prefer the township concept that we offer because it helps ensure convenience and comfort necessary for the retention of their employees,” Mr. Tiongson was quoted as saying.

Megaworld currently has office spaces in eight fully operational buildings in Iloilo: One Global Center, Two Global Center, Richmonde Tower, One Techno Place, Two Techno Place, Three Techno Place and Festive Walk Office 1 and 2.

However, it said all its office spaces are fully leased out at the moment, thus it is constructing an additional 35,000 square meters of office space through One Fintech Place A, One Fintech Place B and Two Fintech Place. These buildings are scheduled for completion in 2021.

“By 2022, we expect our office stocks to reach around 175,000 square meters, the biggest for a single developer in Iloilo City. These office towers are able to generate approximately 62,000 jobs in the BPO (business process outsourcing) sector,” Mr. Tiongson said.

A robust growth in its office leasing business pushed Megaworld’s revenues 17% up to P48.12 billion in the first nine months of 2019, resulting in an attributable net income of P11.3 billion or 14% higher from a year ago.

Shares in Megaworld at the stock exchange slipped 1 centavo or 0.23% to P4.30 apiece on Friday. — Denise A. Valdez

Halal slaughterhouse in Davao City expected to be ready by March

DAVAO CITY — A halal slaughterhouse located in the city’s Baguio District is expected to be ready by March, while a new pig abattoir in the same area will also be opened within the year.

The halal slaughterhouse will be a “box-type” manual facility for goats, cows, and carabaos, according to Joseph L. Gabut, officer-in-charge of the city’s current slaughterhouse.

He said the facility will give “legitimacy” to meat vendors who claim to sell halal meat to the Muslim community.

“The meat vendors who claim to offer halal are being questioned over the legitimacy of their meat. Once we have that, we can produce authentic halal meats,” Mr. Gabut, speaking in mixed English and Filipino, said in an interview.

The slaughterhouse was funded by P5 million from the Department of Agriculture-Region 11 and P1 million counterpart funds from the local government.

Meanwhile, the P76 million modern slaughterhouse for hogs with food processing facilities is also targeted for completion within the year.

Mr. Gabut said the original plan was to have this facility ready also by March, but the equipment for waste water treatment has yet to be bid out.

The abattoir, with a floor area of 1,250 square meters, will have hog pens, manual and mechanized slaughtering areas, a blast freezer, storage, and processing equipment.

“You can also process meats, such as chorizo, tocino, bacon,” he said.

Minimal fees will be imposed for the use of the slaughterhouses, which will be managed by the city government for one year, after which it will be offered for a public-private partnership contract.

Mr. Gabut said the current slaughterhouse in the Ma-a area will likely be closed and relocated. — Maya M. Padillo

Kia Philippines posts 124% sales growth in 2019

A YEAR after the Kia brand’s relaunch under new distributor AC Industrials, an Ayala company, the Korean car maker once again showed that it has the Power to Surprise as it reported a record-breaking 124% year-on-year growth in the Philippine market.

Driving the strong performance were the Soluto subcompact sedan, the K2500 light-duty truck, the Grand Carnival minivan, and the newly launched Seltos subcompact crossover.

The Soluto led the increase, capturing 51% of sales volume, followed by the K2500 with 21%, Grand Carnival with 13%, and 7% for the Seltos.

The Soluto with its 1.4-liter motor with Dual CVVT technology producing 95ps and 132Nm of torque, spacious interior, 7-inch Touchscreen Audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, rearview camera, and steering wheel controls as standard provide a value-for-money proposition for its class. The higher-spec EX variant adds leatherette seats, alloy wheels and rear park distance sensors. It is the perfect car for first-time car buyers looking for a feature-packed offering.

The K2500, meanwhile, is a light-duty truck that’s heavy on features and flexible according to your needs. It is equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged diesel engine that produces 130ps and 255Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. It is available in the following configurations: Karga, Kargo, Closed Van and Dropside. The K2500 is the ideal logistics partner of budding entrepreneurs and businessmen.

The Grand Carnival has been Kia’s people carrier since its introduction two decades ago. The latest-generation is powered by a 2.2-liter CRDI diesel engine delivering 200ps and 441Nm, paired with an 8-speed automatic. Boasting luxury car features, the Grand Carnival in its EX 7–seater variant is equipped with window sunshades, dual moonroof, power sliding doors and tail gate, full auto air-conditioning with three-zone capability, an 8-inch Touchscreen Audio with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and a versatile cabin with various seating configurations. It is the minivan for accomplished executives who can use it as a family-friendly ride or a daily mobile office.

The Seltos, Kia’s latest model launched in November 2019, packs a 2.0-liter Dual CVVT engine with 149ps and 179Nm. This powerplant is mated to a new Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) with Drive Mode Select that allows the driver to switch between different modes to suit one’s driving preference. Its standard features include: 8-inch Touchscreen Audio system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, rear view camera and full fold rear seats with the top-of-the-line SX offering full LED head and tail lights, LED daytime running lamps and signature position lamps, automatic climate control, smart entry with push button and remote start, Electronic Stability Control, and 6 air bags. The new Seltos is the crossover of choice for high-achieving young professionals and couples starting a family looking for a stylish and flexible ride.

The Stinger, Sorento, Sportage, Forte, Rio and Picanto complete the entire Kia lineup that sold a total of 5,019 vehicles in 2019 — a 124% jump from the 2,238 vehicles sold during the previous year.

“We are pleased with the strong performance of Kia Philippines in 2019,” expressed Manny Aligada, president of Kia Philippines. “As we enter 2020, Kia Philippines looks forward to surpassing its record with new vehicle introductions, the opening of new dealerships, and better after-sales services,” Mr. Aligada added.

Kia gave the public a taste of things to come during the brand re-launch in January last year with the Soluto unboxing, highlighted by a teaser of two additional new vehicles it would be bringing in the market. Kia delivered with the debut of the Stinger and the Seltos, as well as refreshed offerings in its vehicle range throughout 2019.

Gucci revisits an ugly childhood

By Joseph L. Garcia
Reporter

THE INTERNET was abuzz with Gucci’s Fall/Winter 2020 collection, launched last week at Milan Men’s Fashion Week, and BusinessWorld had to take a look. An article from Vogue about the collection says that the brand’s look revolves around “the characteristics of masculinity through an allegorical journey in clothing back to childhood.” A giant swinging pendulum dominated the runway, which BusinessWorld takes to mean a sort of hypnotic regression to childhood. Allesando Michele’s vision of childhood seems to revolve around the following interpretations: androgyny, thrift shop and schoolboy/schoolgirl chic, plus the uncool part of the 1970s.

THRIFT SHOP CHIC
I’ve always been uncomfortable with distressed clothing, and this discomfort is best summarized by Muriel Barbery in a quote from the novel The Elegance of the Hedgehog. A concierge character, Renee, was criticizing the shabby-chic look of one of her building’s residents: “If there is one thing I despise, it is the perverse affectation of rich people who go around dressing as if they were poor, in secondhand clothes, ill-fitting gray wool bonnets, socks full of holes, and flowered shirts under threadbare sweaters. Not only is it ugly, it is also insulting: nothing is more despicable than a rich man’s scorn for a poor man’s longing.”

Reading the quote also summarizes the grungier aspects of this collection: there were wool bonnets and flowered scarves (not shirts) under threadbare sweaters (a particularly ugly one was made with a faux badly-knit cat). Oversized shirts (one printed with the words “impatient” and “impotent” in distorted letters), baggy, ripped jeans, ugly sneakers, and drab coats were seen on the runway.

These were paired with some of the brand’s most famous bags, such as the Gucci Dionysus GG Supreme, and masculine interpretations of the Gucci Bouvier bag. Some bags were emblazoned with the words “Fake” on one side, and “Not” on the other. On one hand, it’s a middle-finger to the concept of trickle-down economics, showing that at least in fashion, trickling up is the way to go. On the other hand, you’re paying top dollar for things that look as if they’ve been rummaged out of a thrift store bin. A lot of eggs could be on a lot of faces.

SCHOOLBOY/SCHOOLGIRL CHIC
Gucci’s interpretation of someone quite sleek might refer to someone who went to either an English or Swiss boarding school. There were wonderful coats in pink tweed, green, and navy; then there were suits in puce. Well and good, until the shorts started coming out of the runway.

Some of the elements are unmistakably chic: think rich velvet blazers in rich jeweled tones, and even an interpretation of this clean, innocent aesthetic in corrupt black leather. These were paired with khaki and navy shorts, loafers, knee-high socks, and what seems to be Gucci lunchboxes. It was like watching a movie about preppies in the 1980s, except the scowling models make them all look unhappy.

We’re here for the T-bar schoolgirl shoes though. As for the look with schoolgirl chic, androgynous models were pushed into dresses with prints from Liberty London (also seen in a floral bag that said “Liberty Gucci”), with one red dress with a white Peter Pan collar looking as if it had been plucked straight out of the musical Annie.

THE 1970S
Shimmering suits in raspberry. Bell-bottom pants in every color, plus the fact that they were shimmery. While the 1970s-inspired outfits had a whisper of disco, it looks like a moment of indecision (checking back on the collection’s coming-of-age theme, this might have been deliberate).

The shimmering garments were paired with the pastels and plains of suburbia, and a certain discomfort comes from the outfits from the ’70s seeming to step from a haze of television image noise.

Yields on government debt rise on inflation concerns

By Mark T. Amoguis
Senior Researcher

YIELDS ON benchmark government securities (GS) increased last week, fueled heavily by inflation concerns amid the still-ongoing Taal Volcano eruption.

GS yields inched up by a week-on-week average of six basis points (bps), based on the PHP Bloomberg Valuation Service Reference Rates as of Jan. 17 published on the Philippine Dealing System’s website.

“Local yields were generally higher this week amid local inflation concerns from possible increase in prices following the Taal Volcano’s eruption,” a bond trader said in an e-mail interview last Friday.

“Risk-off sentiment has also driven yields higher ahead of the mutual signing of the first phase bilateral US-China trade agreement in Washington DC [last] week,” the trader added.

For his part, ATRAM Trust Corp. Head of Fixed Income Jose Miguel B. Liboro said: “Investors have switched to a more cautious mindset and have been trimming positions, pushing yields higher [last week],” on the back of “still-unknown” inflationary implications of the Taal Volcano eruption as well as the market speculation on the possibility of a retail Treasury bond issuance in the first quarter of this year.

Mr. Liboro also said the partial awarding of Treasury bills (T-bills) during last Tuesday’s auction provided initial catalyst for the upward movement of yields last week.

The Taal Volcano in Batangas has been erupting since Jan. 12 and over 82,000 people have been evacuated. A 14-kilometer exclusion zone around Taal remains in place.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia estimated that Taal’s eruption is projected to book P7.63 billion worth of economic losses in Batangas alone as of Monday last week, which translates to 0.3% of total output of the Calabarzon Region — comprised by the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

Calabarzon had the second-largest contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) with a 17% share in 2018, after National Capital Region’s 36% share.

However, Department of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez said on Thursday that the inflationary impact of Taal Volcano’s activity will be minimal and manageable.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) raised P16.875 billion in T-bills out of its P20-billion program last Tuesday despite strong demand as rates went up across-the-board.

National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon said the government plans $3.7 billion in external borrowings this year, but has yet to secure approvals from the regulators.

She also said that the BTr will still consider selling retail Treasury bonds, as the sale of the debt papers will always be an option.

Offshore, the United States and China signed last Wednesday the “phase one” of its trade deal, inching closer to resolving its ongoing conflict over tit-for-tat tariffs.

Following the signing of the trade deal, US Vice-President Mike Pence said the discussions about the second phase of the pact between the world’s two largest economies are already on track, Reuters reported.

At the close of trading last Friday, bond yields rose across-the-board with 91-, 182- and 364-day T-bills increasing by 3.4 bps, 6.2 bps, 7.6 bps, respectively, to 3.298%, 3.489% and 3.825%.

Yields on the two-, three-, four-, five- and seven-year Treasury bonds (T-bond) went up 4.4 bps, 6.6 bps, 8.5 bps, 9.7 bps and 9.4 bps, respectively, to 4.092%, 4.244%, 4.367%, 4.472% and 4.626%.

At the long end of the curve, the 10-, 20- and 25-year T-bonds went up 6.9 bps, 2.4 bps and 0.7 bp, respectively, to yield 4.744%, 5.268% and 5.289%.

“For [this] week, local yields are still expected to increase due to optimism ahead of likely stronger Philippine economic growth report for the last quarter of 2019,” the bond trader said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will report official fourth-quarter and 2019 GDP data on Jan. 23.

A BusinessWorld poll of 20 economists late last week bared a GDP growth median estimate of 6.4% for the fourth quarter and 5.9% for full-year 2019 amid strong household consumption and a rebound in government spending.

If realized, the estimate will be below the 6.2% growth recorded in 2018 and will miss the downward-revised 6-6.5% target set by the government.

For his part, Mr. Liboro said the outcome of the reissuance of seven-year bonds on Tuesday will determine market action this week.

“Given the cautious tone at present, investors are likely to bid at higher levels. The yield curve will reprice depending on where the auction clears,” he said.

“Should the BTr opt to reject the auction, we could see yields stabilize in the short-term and a slight move lower off the highs.”

The Treasury will auction off reissued seven-year debt worth P30 billion on Tuesday. The bond has a remaining life of six years and 24 days and has a coupon rate of 6.25%.

The government is looking to raise P1.4 trillion this year both from local and foreign sources to fund its budget deficit, which is expected to widen to as much as 3.2% of the country’s total output. — with Reuters

Brokers, dealers told to register with AMLC

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reminding its covered persons that have not registered with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to start doing so.

In a notice posted on its website, the country’s corporate regulator told covered persons that are supervised or regulated by the SEC to sign up with AMLC through its online registration system.

Compliance officers of the covered persons are also told to update their user account information in the AMLC system every two years.

The SEC said among the covered persons who must comply with the requirement are securities dealers, brokers, salesmen, investment houses and other similar persons managing securities or rendering services as investment agent, advisor or consultant.

Also included are mutual funds, close-end investment companies, common trust funds and similar persons.

Entities dealing with currency, commodities or financial derivatives based on valuable objects, cash substitutes and other similar monetary instruments or property are likewise part of the covered persons.

The SEC issued last year its anti-money laundering module, which aims to guide covered persons in abiding by the Anti-Money Laundering Act, its revised implementing rules and regulations, the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force and other regulatory issuances of the AMLC and the SEC.

The AMLC was formed through the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, tasked to ensure the confidentiality of bank accounts to prohibit any instance of money laundering in the country.

The council is formed by the governor of the central bank, the commissioner of the Insurance Commission and the chairman of the SEC. — Denise A. Valdez

Could 2020 be our Olympic breakthrough year?

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

IN 2020 the Philippines will take part in the Summer Olympics once again, the 10th since 1984 and 22nd appearance since the country first competed in 1924.

But unlike in previous Olympiads, there is increased confidence in the lead-up to the Tokyo Games that this year could be the year the Philippines wins that elusive first gold medal.

Sports officials said the confidence over 2020 being a golden breakthrough year is not necessarily unwarranted, believing that the athletes are “better prepared” this time and capable of making things happen.

In nearly a century of competing in the Olympics, the Philippines has produced 10 medals to date — three silver and seven bronze.

Boxers Anthony Villanueva (1964) and Mansueto Velasco (1996), and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz (2016) are the country’s silver medalists while bronze came from swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso (1928 and 1932), high jumper Simeon Toribio (1932), runner Miguel White (1936), and boxers Jose Villanueva (1964), Leopoldo Serantes (1988) and Roel Velasco (1992).

For the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, which will take place between July 24 and Aug. 9, two Filipino athletes have qualified — pole-vaulter Ernest John Obiena and gymnast Carlos Yulo — with more expected to join them after Olympic qualifiers in various sports this year.

‘WE HAVE A CHANCE’
“We have a chance definitely,” said Mariano Araneta, Philippine chef de mission to the 2020 Olympics, when asked for his thoughts on how the country would fare in this year’s edition of the sporting spectacle.

“There is always a chance, of course, but this time preparation of our athletes has really been intense. Support is being given to them both by the government and the private sector and they are showing much determination,” added the chef de mission, who is also the president of the Philippine Football Federation.

As of September last year, some P1 billion has been spent by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) according to reports. The PSC is the agency tasked to oversee training and foreign exposure of Filipino athletes for international competitions, including the recently concluded 30th Southeast Asian Games here and the Olympics.

The PSC, under the leadership of its chairman William Ramirez, has committed sustained support to the athletes and the thorough development of sports through various programs.

Mr. Araneta said the PSC is hoping to field at least 20 athletes for this year’s Olympics, an improvement from the 13-athlete contingent of the Philippines in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

EYE ON TOKYO
Due to the groundbreaking manner Mr. Yulo qualified for the Tokyo Games, many are bullish on the 19-year-old becoming the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist aside from his world championship.

Mr. Yulo earned a spot in the Olympics after making the cut in the all-around events at the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, in October.

Also in the same tournament, the Filipino gymnast won the country’s first-ever world artistic gymnastics gold, making it a double celebration for Philippine gymnastics.

Mr. Yulo bagged gold in the floor exercise final with a score of 15.300, besting Artem Dolgopyat (15.200) of Israel, who finished second, and Ruoteng Xiao (14.933) of China for bronze. In the all-around, Mr. Yulo wound up 10th in the competition.

The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) considers it a massive achievement to see one of its own in the Olympics, more so in the person of Mr. Yulo, who has had Tokyo in his sights ever since he moved to Japan in 2016 to hone his skills to be at par with the best in the world.

Mr. Yulo, who picked up the sport at the age of seven, will be the first Philippine gymnast to compete in the Olympics in five decades after Ernesto Beren and Norman Henson in 1968.

In 2016, Mr. Yulo, then only 16, relocated to Tokyo to train under coach Munehiro Kugimiya.

GAP was first cool to the idea but with the insistence of Mr. Yulo’s coach, it eventually agreed, a decision the organization, in hindsight, is thankful to have made.

“We really looked for ways to bring him to Japan after seeing how he would really improve there. The moment when he moved to Japan it was to compete in (the) Tokyo (Games),” said Bettina Pou, GAP secretary-general in an interview.

Ms. Pou said at first it was tough for the young gymnast as he not only had to deal with the tough training but he also had to adjust to a new environment away from his parents.

So difficult was the situation for Mr. Yulo early on, Ms. Pou said, that the young athlete considered giving up altogether.

But when Mr. Yulo eventually adjusted to his new situation and saw his hard work starting to pay off, there was simply no stopping him from going after his goal of making it to the Olympics.

In 2018, when he started competing as a senior, Mr. Yulo began getting valuable points for qualification, consistently winning medals in various international competitions in Melbourne; Baku, Azerbaijan; Doha; and Stuttgart in October clinched it all for him.

“He is very excited for the Olympics. He has achieved his goal and he is now working to be the first gold medalist of the country. And he has a good chance of doing it in the floor exercise. That’s his goal,” said Ms. Pou.

“His mindset is much better. And winning the world championship really boosted his confidence,” she added.

The GAP official said the association is doing everything it can to support Mr. Yulo, who apart from his coach has a psychologist and nutritionist working with him to be in the best possible shape in the Olympics.

Mr. Yulo competed in the 30th SEA Games in December where he won two gold medals (all-round and floor exercise) and five silver (pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bars).

He was set to continue his training in Japan after the SEA Games to prepare for the Tokyo Games.

DIDAL AND OTHERS
Apart from Messrs. Yulo and Obiena, who qualified for the Tokyo Games by clearing 5.81 meters in topping the Salto Con L’Asta competitions in Piazza, Italy, in September, and has been training at the special International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) training camp under the tutelage of Serbian coach Vitaly Petrov, Mr. Araneta said skateboarding, weightlifting, boxing, judo and golf are the potential sports that could send athletes to the 2020 Olympics.

In skateboarding, in the mix is 20-year-old Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal, who has steadily been earning Olympic qualifying points in international competitions, the most recent of which was the OI STU Open Street/Park Skateboarding event in Brazil in November.

“I just came from Brazil for the STU qualifier for the Olympics. I did not enter the finals but I was in the top 10 which is a good number. Currently I’m in the top 14 in the world and we are on the right path, so there is a chance. If the Olympics started today we can qualify,” Ms. Didal said in an interview.

The Cebu City native said that she is confident of making it to the Summer Games this year but underscored the need for continued support in the push to achieve qualification.

“I’m confident of entering the Olympics. But there are a lot of competitions that I have to compete in starting January. We need all the support that we can get for these events to sustain the momentum we have built and get the points needed to stay in contention for a spot in the Olympics,” said Ms. Didal, who was recently added to the roster of athletes supported by energy drink Red Bull worldwide.

“If fortunate enough to qualify for the Olympics, we’ll try our best. I’ll give everything I have in training and in the competition.”

Ms. Didal was a two-time gold medallist in the SEA Games debut of skateboarding recently, winning in street skateboarding and Game of S.KA.T.E.

Following a silver-winning performance in the 2016 edition of the Games in Brazil, Hidilyn Diaz, 28, for her part, has become all the more determined to win the top hardware in the Olympics.

Four years ago in Rio, Ms. Diaz finished second to Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Shu-Ching. The former lifted 200 kilograms to the Taiwanese’s 212, settling for the silver medal in the women’s 53-kg division.

In vying for a spot for this year’s Games, the Zamboanga City weightlifter has been leaving no stone unturned, even soliciting more support for what she is trying to accomplish, including over social media.

She has vowed to do everything she can to appear in the Olympics for a fourth straight time.

“Training continues for me in my bid for the Olympics. I won’t take a break over Christmas and New Year. I will make that sacrifice to reach our goal and bring honor to the country,” Ms. Diaz said after winning her first SEA Games gold medal last month.

Ms. Diaz is coming off a “fruitful” 2019 where she also won two bronze medals at the Weightlifting World Championships in September.

She is set to compete in the 2020 Roma World Cup in January as part of her bid to make it to the Olympics.

Boxing, traditionally a steady source of Olympic athletes for the Philippines, has also made noise with the recent success of Nesthy Petecio, who won a gold medal in the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in October in Russia, and Eumir Marcial, silver medallist at the 2019 World Boxing Championships in September.

In 2016 in Rio, two boxers competed for the country — light flyweight Rogen Ladon and lightweight Charly Suarez.

In judo, Filipino-Japanese judoka Kiyomi Watanabe has an inside track for the Olympics while golfer Yuka Saso is targeting to make it as well.

The Philippine 3×3 basketball team also earned a berth in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in India in March.

COULD 2020 BE THE YEAR?
Given the kind of momentum Philippine athletes have been building, and the circumstances they are in, heading into the Tokyo Games, could 2020 be the year the country wins that elusive gold?

GAP’s Ms. Pou said the organization firmly believes that Mr. Yulo has what it takes to bring home the gold but admits it would be anything but easy.

“We are confident of his chances and we hope he stays healthy all the way to the Olympics. Given his preparations and the mindset he has now as well as the support of the government, the federation, his family and others, he has all the ‘tools’ going in and just needs to go for it and give his best shot,” said Ms. Pou, adding that floor exercise, parallel bars and vault are the gymnast’s strong suits.

“In winning gold in the world championships he showed what he is capable of and the Olympics could be the next thing,” she added.

“For the 2020 Olympics we have athletes who are capable of winning. They are up there in the rankings in their respective fields. And when you’re at that level anything can happen,” Mr. Araneta said.

“We are not going to the Olympics just to show up but more to compete and win. Nor are we going there clueless. We will prepare as best as we can. Of course, luck and prayers, too, would help,” he added.

And what if we fall short anew?

“I don’t think it would be a huge disappointment if we do not win gold. As long as we do our best and compete and prove we belong there at that level it is still a success,” according to the Philippine chef de mission.

“A gold definitely would be a huge bonus. But if we don’t win we’ll go back to the drawing board, look at what we did right and what we did wrong, and take another shot at it next time,” Mr. Araneta added.

Bamboo sustainability could be biggest draw; regulations pose a hurdle

THE BAMBOO industry is well-positioned to become an alternative building material with a growing niche because of its sustainability, and very little capital and time needed for farmers who intend to grow the crop, a former agriculture department official said.

“The market is big, so para sa akin, kailangan lang ‘yung produkto natin i-place kung saan mong niche gusto (the product can fill any niche you want),” former Agriculture undersecretary for policy and planning Segfredo R. Serrano told BusinessWorld in an interview.

There are 62 species of bamboo has 62 species, 21 of which are endemic to the Philippines. Bamboo grows three to six inches per day and takes two to three years to reach harvestable height. Bamboo eventually regenerates, eliminating the need to replant. Its main applications include furniture, building materials, and agricultural use in fishpens.

Mr. Serrano said demand for organic materials is also increasing, providing an opportunity for growers. It can substitute for wood.

“There is species of bamboo for virtually every purpose. Construction, composites,” Mr. Serrano said, noting that bamboo is underexploited.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Research Fellow Roehlano M. Briones said bamboo could be an export product if proper regulation is in place.

“If we can solve the regulation issue, malaki ang potential (the potential is large),” he said in a text message.

He cited permits to cut bamboo as a possible hurdle to the sector’s growth.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) requires bamboo farmers to obtain a cutting permit under the Revised Forestry Administrative Order No. 11, dated Sept. 14, 1970. Its regional offices issue the permits. Bamboo inside tree plantations and private land covered by title or tax declarations are exempt from having to obtain permits.

The DENR also monitors the transport of bamboo. Shippers need to be able to provide a Certificate of Non-Timber Forest Products Origin (CNFPO) under DENR AO no. 59, issued Sept. 30, 1993, except for those planted inside titled and tax-declared land.

The Philippine Bamboo Industry Council (PBIC) is planning to convert 19,000 hectares of land, with 13,000 hectares located in the Western Visayas, to bamboo plantations this year. The Department of Trade (DTI) will be providing shared service facilities for processing bamboo.

Bamboo production and processing is entitled to tax incentives under the DTI’s Strategic Investments Priorities Plan. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Greener fashion industry could unlock more than $100B in value

GLOBAL FASHION’s “take-make-dispose” model needs a sustainability makeover.

That’s according to a report out last week from Barclays titled “Green is the new black,” which projects the fashion industry can unlock some €110 billion ($123 billion) in value by addressing key environmental issues related to water, energy, chemicals and waste. If business continues as usual, €45 billion in profit is at risk by 2030.

The industry’s “immense water-consuming, energy-exhausting, and wasteful supply chain practices are creating an environmental and social concern that we can no longer afford to ignore,” said the authors, led by Anushka Challawala and Hiral Patel.

Environmental, social and governance concerns for investors have come to the forefront in recent years, with multiple fund launches and flows pouring into the strategy. Stock allocation to so-called ESG funds have increased sharply, while investors have also turned to green bonds in their search for yield.

Fashion accounts for 8% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, more than international flights and maritime shipping put together, according to Barclays. And an estimated $500 billion in value is lost each year due to “clothing being barely worn and rarely recycled.” Analysts at the London-based bank drew from estimates by Boston Consulting Group, the nonprofit Global Fashion Agenda and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which promotes thinking on a “circular economy.”

Barclays sees profit risk from rising input costs as well as looming regulation, shifting popular opinion, and increasing pressure from consumers concerned about climate change and micro-plastic pollution.

Younger shoppers “are often willing to pay 50%-100% more than other age cohorts for environmentally friendly goods,” Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Poonam Goyal wrote late last year.

With conventional cotton and virgin polyester making up about 85% of total fibers in today’s apparel, Barclays sees the need for more sustainable materials in the mix. Other proposed solutions include increasing resource efficiency in processing and manufacturing of clothing as well as reducing post-consumer waste — an issue worsened by the “fast-fashion era and overconsumption.”

In the EU, Asos Plc and Boohoo Group Plc are “more exposed” to these issues due to their “reliance on affordable prices and rapid consumer trends,” according to Barclays analysts. Meanwhile, Associated British Foods Plc’s Primark stands out for its focus on sustainable cotton and brick-and-mortar stores, avoiding the “last-mile environmental impact” of home delivery and returns.

Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M), an early mover in sustainability efforts, has lately become interested in scaling up experimental materials including “pineapple leather,” “lab-grown cotton,” and “mushroom leather,” Barclays said.

Among US apparel companies, the report highlights Nike Inc., Gap Inc., Lululemon Athletica Inc., PVH Corp., Ralph Lauren Corp. and VF Corp. as “best positioned,” while EBay Inc. would stand to benefit from a business model that emphasizes second-hand, rental and direct-to-consumer.

As for Amazon.com Inc., Barclays analyst Ross Sandler in the report said the e-commerce giant became “significantly more transparent” last year by releasing its sustainability goals, and remains “well placed” as the industry shifts toward sustainable practices. — Bloomberg

Start the new decade by driving home a brand new Subaru

MOTOR IMAGE PILIPINAS, Inc., the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines, encourages you take a second look at the new year markdowns being offered nationwide for the last remaining 2018 model year units available:

Don’t let this decade pass without owning a Subaru that has over 100 safety features! All new vehicle purchases will be covered by 5-year comprehensive warranty so be assured of more confident drives every time. Promo runs until Jan. 31, 2020, so head to the nearest Subaru showroom and let our sales consultants help you on which deal will suit you best.

Peso to strengthen anew ahead of Q4 GDP report

THE PESO is seen to strengthen this week on the back of expectations of strong fourth-quarter economic growth.

The local unit finished trading at P50.891 per dollar on Friday, depreciating by six centavos from its P50.831 close on Thursday, according to data from the website of the Bankers’ Association of the Philippines.

It also weakened by 23.1 centavos from its P50.66-per-dollar finish on Jan. 10.

The sideways trading seen for the day was due to the lack of local leads, according to UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion.

Meanwhile, a trader said the slightly weaker peso performance was on the back of a “disappointing” phase one trade deal between the Washington and US on Jan. 15.

“I think there’s a little bit more disappointment that there wasn’t more clarity to some parts of the deal. Moving forward now, that there are questions for the phase 2 deal,” the trader said.

Reuters reported that among the provisions of the landmark deal is the reduction of US tariff on Chinese goods in exchange for China’s commitment to buy additional $200 billion worth of products including agricultural, energy, and manufactured goods for the next two years.

For this week, Mr. Asuncion said the market will be on the lookout mainly for data inon the country’s fourth quarter (Q4) and 2019 gross domestic product (GDP) growth set to be released by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Jan. 23.

“This would be the biggest market driver. Q4 economic growth is expected to be at least six percent and would likely strengthen the peso,” he said.

The economy grew by 6.2% in the third quarter of 2019, bringing the GDP growth average for the first nine months of the year to 5.8%.

Fourth-quarter GDP growth needs to hit at least 6.7% in order for the full-year figure to hit the minimum target of six percent set by the government.

Meanwhile, the trader said other key factors for trading this week would be demand for dollars and news on the US-China trade talks.

“There will be dollar demand, corporate demand…And we’ll look into developments of US-China…probably phase two deal,” the trader said.

Mr. Asuncion sees the peso trading at P50.50-50.90, while the trader gave a range of P50.70-P51.20. — L.W.T. Noble with Reuters

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