FOREIGN
Bloomberry: Back In Black PAGE 6
BUSINESS
NATION
MISSING: Php1.3 Billion! PAGE 3
Food Security in SEA needed PAGE 11
Jun Castillo
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR & COCONUT HERO 16 Php15.00
Educational yet opinionated, informative yet persuasive
We Take A Stand
MAY 26-JUNE 1, 2014 • VOL.4 NO.39
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WHY LIE? By al Labita
PNoy has failed to address the challenges hounding his administration. To cover up for these failures, his administration has used the World Economic Forum as a platform to peddle lies, to obscure the Philippines’ real state of affairs. Page 2
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COVER STORY
Why Lie? By Al Labita
For a nation whose self-serving claim to economic growth success is nothing but an empty boast, why lie? Battered by bruising political scandals, the Aquino government has used the World Economic Forum as a platform to peddle lies, obviously a cover-up of the country’s real state of affairs.
The poverty situation could even be worse than what the government reports. For one, the government uses a very low poverty threshold of P52 per person per day on average nationwide, meaning a person who earns P52 a day is not considered as poor and is supposed to afford the basics of food, clothing and shelter, not to mention transportation, health and education expenses.
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Poverty remains widespread, while employment is getting scarce, proof that Aquino’s much-ballyhooed inclusive growth program has failed expectations. Take the foreign direct investments (FDIs) where the Philippines remains a laggard vis-àvis its Asian neighbors. Supposedly job generating, FDIs hardly increased, but instead decreased, implying that investors had packed up and looked elsewhere for new businesses. Based on Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data, FDIs showed a slumping trend, amounting to only US$350 million last February, 59 percent lower than in the same month last year. Even on cumulative basis, FDIs recorded net inflows of US$1.4 billion From January to February 2014, 24.7 percent lower, year-on-year.
Competitiveness
Normally, FDIs are money brought in by investors to put up factories, plants or open a branch. Amid signs of weak FDIs, analysts are not surprised why the economy grew at an estimated slower pace of six percent in this year’s first quarter, compared with the 7.7 percent growth in the same period last year. In what could be a case of wrong timing and while Aquino spoke in glowing terms about the economy, the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center released the 2014 World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) showing that the Philippines suffered a setback in the competitiveness rankings. A sign of poor governance, the country dropped four notches lower to rank 42nd, largely due to Aquino’s failure to address five critical challenges—infrastructure, corruption, unemployment and underemployment, undeveloped financial system and natural disasters.
In terms of infrastructure, many Philippine roads remain unpaved, transportation is deemed inefficient, while the primary airport is operating beyond capacity. As for corruption, Aquino has yet to shake off the unsavory tag as the country’s “pork barrel” king, a ticklish issue he hardly touched in his statements at the WEF, apparently to avoid
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Interestingly, the number of jobs generated from 2012 to 2013 was way below the annual average of 640,000 jobs created over the long 37-year period 1976-2013. It is then not surprising that the number of unemployed Filipinos increased by 117,000 in 2013. The government’s unemployment rate is at 7.1 percent, with 2.9 million Filipinos unemployed. Ibon Foundation’s estimate is much higher at 10.6 percent affecting 4.5 million Filipinos. Regardless of whether one takes the Ibon or the government’s estimate, it is still the worst unemployment rate in Asia and among the worst in the world. In the most recent official estimate of poverty, in 2012, reveals a 25.2 percent population poverty incidence with 23.7 million poor Filipinos and 19.7 percent family poverty incidence with 4.2 million poor families.
Laggard
Skirting pork barrel issue
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Dismal job picture
n what could be a form of grandstanding, he minced no words in claiming that the country is in the midst of a dramatic turnaround. “We are intent on continuing this trend and making certain that each and every Filipino enjoys the full dividends of progress,» Aquino said. «All signs for the future are pointing upwards.» But contrary to what Aquino has been trumpeting at the forum, the economy is not as good as he portrayed it to be.
OpinYon
Worse than expected embarrassing himself before an audience of foreign dignitaries. Instead, he found as a convenient scapegoat his predecessor, detained Congresswoman Gloria Arroyo, blaming her for the ills hounding his government. «My predecessor is now undergoing hospital arrest as she undergoes two serious corruption charges, with another being evaluated by the Ombudsman. In its assessment of the Aquino administration, the WYC also noted that unemployment and underemployment rates are among the highest in the region, creating the impression of a jobless economic growth.
Inclusive to the elites
While the economy racked up gains over the past years, the reality is that exponentially, these also translated into bigger corporate profits and increasing wealth of a few wealthy families. Total net income of the country’s Top 1000 corporations almost doubled from P599 billion in 2006 to P1.08 trillion in 2012. Corporate profits likewise increased 24.5 percent in 2012 compared to 2011. Also, the cumulative net worth of the 40 richest Filipinos – Sy, Tan, Razon, Gokongwei, Ayala, Aboitiz, Consunji, Ty, Cojuangco, Zobel, Yuchengco, Lopez, Araneta, among a few more others – grew three-fold from US$16.0 billion in 2006 to US$47.4 billion in 2012. In 2013 alone, their net worth increased by US$16.8 billion. Also, the so-called economic growth Aquino has been harping on hardly trickled down. Based on a study by Ibon Foundation, a mere 317,000 jobs were generated by the Aquino administration in 2013, down from 408,000 in 2012, and 1.2 million in 2011.
According to Ibon Foundation, the number of poor families, as per government estimates, increased by 10.6 percent or 405,638 families between 2006 and 2012; the number of poor Filipinos increased by 4.9 percent or 1.1 million over the same period. Thus, neither the much-hyped economic growth nor the P76.1 billion spent on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program between 2006 and 2012 made an impact on the worsening poverty situation. The poverty situation could even be worse than what the government reports. For one, the government uses a very low poverty threshold of P52 per person per day on average nationwide, meaning a person who earns P52 a day is not considered as poor and is supposed to afford the basics of food, clothing and shelter, not to mention transportation, health and education expenses. Ibon Foundation estimates that 60 percent of Filipinos or 56 million are struggling to survive on P100 or less a day, with another 10 million trying to survive on P125 a day. Also, according to Ibon Foundation, the government changed the method of determining the poverty incidence three times: in 1992, 2003 and 2010. This reduced the number of those being considered as poor by 9.6 million in 1992, 4 million in 2003 and 5.3 million in 2010, for a total of 19 million people removed from official poverty estimates by mere statistical manipulation. In its research paper, leftist Ibon Foundation describes the country’s economic growth as “narrow and shallow” – hardly fitting Aquino’s self-serving claim of a broad-based economic growth trajectory. Ibon’s argument runs counter to what Aquino said at the forum -«Our people are the be-all and end-all of this government, and we are not content with waiting for the benefits of growth to just trickle down the social pyramid.» Amen!
WE TAKE A STAND
5/23/14 10:58 PM
Nation
News from Where You Stand
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s if unruffled by public rage over the pork scam, President Aquino is at it again, this time over the whopping P1.3 trillion at his disposal in the 2014 national budget. The biggest in history, the outlay only cements Aquino’s battered image as the country’s undisputed “pork barrel” king. Not a few aired concerns over how Aquino will dispose of the money, given his track record of indiscriminate use of public funds – depending on his whim and caprice. From farmers to civil society groups, they had long asked Aquino to give up his “pork” to prevent its abuse. They took the cue from a Supreme Court decision declaring the Priority Development Assistance Fund as unconstitutional. But Aquino has been adamant, fearing he would risk becoming a lame duck president. As shown in the past, Aquino will most likely dispense the funds to favored allies in the run-up to the 2016 elections. Or, if not, bankroll the “dirty tricks” campaign of his political operators against the opposition. That’s how the so-called Disbursement Acceleration Program originated. Certainly, projects without any political impact will likely draw low priority in favor of those pushed by loyalists and cronies. How Aquino dislodged Supreme Court chief justice Renato Corona following an impeachment trial only exposed the president’s propensity to resort to bribery to get what he wants – by all means and at all costs.
mISSInG:
P1.3 TRILLIOn! QUOTES OF THE WEEK “If reforms in doing business and fiscal consolidation are sustained, the Philippine economy could grow from its current size of US$280 billion to US$680 billion by 2024 and US$1.2 trillion by 2030,” — US-based think tank HIS “I’m ready to defend myself.” — Senator Juan Ponce Enrile,
referring to charges of plunder in the US$10 billion pork scam, saying that in a fair trial, ”I’ll have a fair chance of winning the case.” “Don’t allow your priests to get married. Why? Because then the people will not only support the priest, but they will also have to support the wife, the children, the grandchildren of the
Oscar Cruz priest, and that is very expensive.” — Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, the judicial vicar of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
“We are confident that the property market has so far grown on the back of good fundamentals.” – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, noting that while prices of property have been climbing, this has been modest and aligned with increases in rentals and average income in the country. “It’s unfortunate
that delicadeza, which is a Filipino value, is seemingly not being practiced in the country.” — Buhay partylist Rep. Joselito “Lito” Atienza,“ referring to lawmakers named in the P10 billion pork barrel scam who refused to resign. “The government has supposedly excised the PDAF, but a closer look in the 2014 budget shows
us that the pork barrel system is very much alive” — Former National Treasurer Leonor Briones. “The important thing is businesses work, global supply chains work, and that there are no disruptions.” — Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, referring to the Army declaration of martial law in Thailand.
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OPINION
Publisher’s Notes
By Ray L. Junia
Power Consumers Beware!!!
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False sense of confidence One can’t help but feel embarrassed over how President Aquino gave wrong impressions about the state of the national economy during the justconcluded World Economic Forum in Manila. Sounding ever too optimistic, he rattled off facts and figures which, in more ways than one, were ostensibly self-serving against a backdrop of pervasive poverty and unemployment. Subject to a reality check, however, Aquino’s bullish stance on the economy is found wanting in logic and substance. Truth to tell, the economy’s plight is far from ideal as Aquino wanted to project before foreign dignitaries at the three-day forum which cost Filipino taxpayers over P70 million to host. Not a pittance by any stretch of imagination, that amount could have been better spent for the much-needed rehab of typhoon-devastated Eastern Visayas region. Certain constraints such as the still unresolved pork barrel issue still hound the economy, weighing down on investors’ sentiments. Stocks are still in the doldrums, taking a heavy beating from the calibrated pullout of discriminating foreign funds. Though seemingly peripheral an issue, inflation rate appears poised to breach the four percent band limit pegged by the government. Blindly, the government has been pouring in money for the calamity-stricken Visayas without realizing its ripple effects on inflation in the long run. Another festering issue is the intriguing delay of the expected credit ratings upgrade by Fitch and Moody’s. So far, only Standard & Poor’s handed down its credit rating, leaving pundits wondering why the two other agencies kept on hold their much-anticipated upgrade. Probably, Fitch and Moody’s are still waiting for some relevant data, either economic or political, to form the basis of their decision which is likely to trigger a chain reaction in the financial market. Until such time, Aquino’s overbearing stance at the forum may be understandably glossed over.
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Editorial: 214-0766 Business & Circulation: 9412189 Email: opinyon.2010@ gmail.com website: www.opinyon.com.ph DISCLAIMER Letters to the Editor and unsolicited manuscripts are welcome. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, editors and staff of Opinyon. We reserve the right to edit articles based on our editorial standards.
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RAY L. JUNIA Publisher ALFONSO LABITA Executive Editor FREDERICK FABIAN Acting Managing Editor DAVE DIWA Opinion Editor
The country’s hottest fund manager, Manuel V. Pangilinan, last week aired warnings of a tight power supply come end of 2017 and 2018. He says Luzon has lately been suffering from low power reserves because of the hot temperature and shutdown of power plants. MVP is trying to sow fear of blackouts, remembering those Cory Aquino years in the Palace. These brownouts warning is easily believable for another Aquino is in Malacanang. Looks like the MVP has run short of talking heads in building fear among consumers that he himself faced the media to ask government to take it easy against investors on electricity. This is one of the very few occasions this money genius would face the camera to remind the government of what his money machines need. The fact that he å the rostrum, this is signal enough that his media machinery will do overtime to create the needed panic with the help of the industry itself. MVP made special mention in his warning statement of a coal power plant in Subic, also the subject of strong protests by environmentalists. His coming to the front speaks of his confidence that panic will follow and his group will be assured of return of those days of former President V. Ramos. FVR is solving the power crisis created by the mother of PNoy, brought in new power players
PUBLIC PULSE The following discussion that took place in the Get Real! Philippines Facebook group was spurred by last week’s cover story ‘RICE CARTEL WINS’ (Vol. 4 No.38 / May 19-25, 2014). not nationalism, it’s talking about proper business practices. Peter a. Vandever: To say we should have our own rice over another’s is nationalism. It is dumb too. Peter a .Vandever: I don’t give a rat’s ass when it come from.... at least it is food. jan Co: Uh why? It only makes sense on a sustainable and competitive level as well.
Peter a. Vandever: Who gives a damn where the rice came from as long as their is rice on the table.
jan Co: It may be food Peter, but again, you must think beyond mere cash. Also, if it is smuggled, it also goes behind proper quality control. It also means that rice can be tainted rice and we won’t know it.
jan Co: It does matter. Smuggled rice hurts our own farmers and legitimate importers.
Peter a. Vandever: If Vietnam has cheaper rice, let’s eat it. Rice is rice. All nasty.
Peter a. Vandever: Ooooh..... taxes and nationalism.... I forgot about them haha
jan Co: So? It also means we are not sustainable. Back in the 90’s we were the number one rice producer in SEA. The Vietnamese came and learned from us and now we’re the bottom.
Peter a. Vandever: All I care is food is on the table.... I don’t care if from Texas, Negros, Vietnam or Sudan. jan Co: Nationalism. Uh no. It’s
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Peter a .Vandever: Did I just read ‘Quality Control in the Philippines’? Peter a. Vandever: Great. let them work for nothing and we can buy it at low prices while we work in the offices enjoying the air-con. Works for everyone.
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who raised the cost of electricity to record highs. Lucky for consumers and bad for MVP, the secretary of the Department of Energy is not about ready to take MVP’s side. The DOE is not taking the bait. The DOE says there is enough power supply in the next three years. DOE is showing some teeth in going against MVP and his clique who have made billions from high cost of electricity. This DOE displays some guts not seen before in taking the risk of being mauled in the national media, mostly controlled by the billionaires in this country. This DOE secretary is not afraid of losing his job, it looks like. You don’t go against MVP and his clique and get away with it. For the fi rst time, we are seeing a DOE that is willing to slug it out with the very rich and the mighty who have control of Philippine politics and it leaders. It is wishful thinking though to hope, the DOE will be able to protect the consumers. That will not happen in this country with the likes of PNoy at the top. The laws here are made to appear to benefit the people. Laws are pro-people in appearance but pro capitalist in the implementation. Still and all, the government should revisit the las that privatized power generation and supply. Giving the industry to the private sector was intended to help the consumers. This has not happened and the worst robbery is happening in this sector. The government should nationalize power supply.
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Peter a. Vandever: This just proves something I know. Pinoy talk global economy but they still want protection. They want a real global economy where borders don’t matter jan Co: Yes there is a quality control sector here. What else
did you think imposes those ISO stuff for imports? Also, work for nothing? Uh huh... How is it protection when it means they can be competitive? Peter a. Vandever: To say we should buy from our farmer just because they are “our countrymen” is nationalism. To say we should not allow others to compete fairly in our markets is protectionism. Let them in, duty free and make our boys compete or go home. Peter a. Vandever: No special treatment to anyone. Global economy demands it. jan Co: Is it protectionism? Smuggling still hurts the economy, global or not. Also, I’m also saying it will help them. If the quality of rice is the same and so is the price, what does it matter? Also, I’m not saying we shouldn’t allow competition, rather I never said anything up there. Peter a. Vandever: They want to give the local farmers special breaks to make them have an edge in the market. I know his nationalistic government. jan Co: Special breaks. Who said? Our farmers are some of the worst off in the world. Also, for someone who wants a world economy you sure say F*ck off to China who is in reality a big player like the USA and Russia. Peter a. Vandever: China has to realize they are a player in a game, not the star of the game. jan Co: They are a key player nonetheless. (To join the discussion, log on to Get Real Philippines Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/201091863245952)
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Opinion
The Viewpoints and outlook of the well-informed
Guiltiest
I hate being preachy, but unless we follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, we will all be sheep lost in a vast and arid desert with nary a raincloud or cactus in sight. We must change our errant ways in our socio-political and personal lives, and think “Good Shepherd” in all our words and deeds. Then, perhaps, the rains will pour and corruption by those in power will stop.
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prayer is said to be heeded more attentively by God whenever addressed to Him by two or more supplicants. It follows then that the ongoing Oratio Imperata Filipino Catholics daily recite is a most powerful prayer for deliverance from the current scorching heat wave. I hate to be a killjoy but — it’s time we realized that we may not get the rains we’ve been imploring if we don’t fi rst mend our sinful ways. That’s basic Christian theology. ••••• Look around government and behold those so-called "public servants" who have been stealing our money, to name just one instance of their betrayal of the public trust. At the same time, let's look at the complicity by some of us as apathetic fence-sitters, or as voters beguiled by the candidates' good looks, popularity, or those moronic considerations other than their qualifications or, worst of all, as electors who sell their votes — and to the highest bidder at that! Let’s admit some of us are as deviant as the politicians. Then, e.g., let’s take a hard look at the egotistical Pacman. Thanks to our adulation of arguably the greatest poundfor-pound pugilist of all time, Manny has come to believe that he is A-1 showbiz material as an emcee, singer, actor, etc., not to mention preacher and politician. And it now blows me down that Congressman Pacquiao has accepted a contract from a PBA team to be its playing-coach — or is it he who’s offering to pay for the right to coach and play?
MUSINGS Ronald Roy — and it boggles me nuts that he admits having seen the presidency on the radar of his political future, the most calamitous portent being that he would win!! OMG, give me a break!! And here we are, praying for good weather while forgetting we should deserve it fi rst by being God’s abiding children! I hate being preachy, but unless we follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, we will all be sheep lost in a vast and arid desert with nary a raincloud or cactus in sight. Yes, my good friend, Ral (David), this is what we need to do: change our errant ways in our sociopolitical and personal lives, and think “Good Shepherd” in all our words and deeds. Then, perhaps, the rains will pour and corruption by those in power will stop. It’s about time that we pondered that the decadent signs of the end-of-times are here! ••••• After parking my car in a mall’s basement, I found myself unable to resist joining four drivers engaged in a chat over current events. Herewith are highlights of my discussion with drivers 1, 2, 3, and 4, most of which have been translated from the vernacular. 1- What?? The World Eco-
nomic Forum for East Asia hosted by President Noynoy showcases today the Philippines as an “economic miracle”?! 2- Hahaha...who will they canonize, him? 1- No kidding! According to my boss, that is a project conceived by Sec. Purisima to boost the latter’s image before VP Binay, who he had invited to deliver the opening remarks! 3- Yeah, Binay is the next president daw, so it’s time to make sip-sip. 4- What miracle ?! More people are going hungry, so if there’s a miracle, it must be that P-Noy and cohorts haven’t been overthrown yet! What do you say, sir? Me- We must be patient (I said, at the risk of being seen as naive, a “stick in the mud”, or unconcerned) and we must conform to peaceful and legal remedies. 4- Well, that’s true, sir, nobody likes bloody coups or armed uprisings, but who can prevent a determined sniper? Isang bala lang is all that’s needed! (A pregnant pause ensues.) After some moments, 1- It’s not just an empty stom-
ach, sir, that endangers P-Noy’s life. He is not a president for all Filipinos because he shows excessive partiality for his allies and overwhelming bias against people he dislikes. He’s disgusting! 3- He does not compare well with other Asian leaders who quickly own up to failures of responsibility. In Japan, for instance, the leader commits harakiri; in South Korea, suicide or resignation; but here, not one of over 120 lower house solons and 25 senators involved in those shady pork barrel deals will admit guilt, or even take a leave of absence. But the ultimate horror is: DBM Sec. Abad is kapit tuko to his post, and of course P-Noy will not fi re him because it was he who ordered Abad to operationalize the PDAF process and invent the DAP in a grand plan to raise the wherewithal P-Noy would need to control the legislature. P-Noy is the guiltiest! (3’s cellphone rings.) 3- Yes, sir, I will fetch you now. (3 bids us goodbye, enters an SUV bearing a #7 plate, and drives off in the dusk.)
China’s Monroe Doctrine: As Told!
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ar happens when there is incessant talk about war.”,says my friend Chit Pedrosa of Philippine Star, May 10,’14. “History is not rich in peaceful transitions of power from one hegemon to another. The seeds of confl ict are evident.”(Roger Cohen, International New York Times, May 9,’14) Political pundit like Jerry Quibilan mailed me that veteran editor and writer, Manny Almario hit the nail on the head when he said that during the visit of US President Barack Obama, he was consistent with his foreign policy and he further confi rmed what most right thinking Filipinos already know. The US will not go to war against China to protect us. During an interview in Malacanang by several reporters, they tried getting an affi rmative answer from President Obama on how the US will respond to a flare-up of a war between Philippines and China over the confl icting territorial claims in the South China Seas(WPS). President Obama responded that, “My job as commanderin-chief is to deploy military
force as a last resort, and to deploy it wisely. And frankly, most of the foreign policy commentators that have questioned our policies would go headlong into a bunch of military adventures that the American people have no interest in participating in and would not advance our core security interests.” But action speaks more than words. Those joint military exercises especially at the West Philippine Sea, the deployment of US military, the visits of nuclear ships and submarines are perceived by China as part of it’s encirclement and preparation for an inevitable war. The sad part of it is that PNoy is being branded by China as a troublemaker and our nation cannot defend ourselves (as hinted by PNoy in his speech during Obama’s visit), just in case a war broke out. Even America cannot immediately support us despite their firepowers are already here because our treaty with the US needs the approval of the US congress. In my past article at Sun Star Manila dated March 8,2000, I wrote that Pentagon planners believed that China will avoid a head-on confrontation with
WHISTLE BLOWER Erick San Juan the US until around 2030, when China expects American power to decline significantly. I said, I disagree because at the rate that globalization and free trade are wrecking havoc on the world economy, my think tank group predicted during that time that ‘showtime’ will begin not later than 2002, due to China’s former President Hu Jintao’s ‘China Dream’ to retake Taiwan before his term ends. And the American power bloc will not allow it. To them, Taiwan is an important component of their fi rst-line of missile defense system, which include South Korea, Japan and the Philippines. What’s worrisome is the strategic policy of China’s present President Xi Jin Ping pursuing a modified ‘China Dream’
of President Hu. Veteran journalist Roger Cohen, in his article at International New York Times(5/9/14) entitled ‘China’s Monroe Doctrine’, he quoted John Mearsheimer’s book-”The Tragedy of Great Power Politics” who makes a powerful case for the inevitability of war in Asia as China rises. Mearsheimer’s argument is that, if China continues to grow economically, it will attempt to dominate Asia the way the US dominated the western hemisphere. The US will go to enormous lengths to prevent China from achieving regional hegemony. I got curious when the article said that most of Beijing’s neighbors: India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam and even Russia will join with the US in containing Chinese power. He added that the result will be an intense security competition with considerable potential for war. Many believe that the world will go to war again as rumors and preparation for it is on. Especially now that big powers like the US, China and Europe have their own domestic-political and economic problems and
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it is perceived that the only way to avoid a civil war in China, a second revolution in the US and a divided Europe is to fight another enemy or create one. Cohen added that China is asserting sovereignty in the South China Sea angering the Philippines and Vietnam. Quoting Mearsheimer that a more powerful China can be expected to try to push the US out of the Asia-Pacific region, much as the US pushed the European great powers out of the western hemisphere in the 19th century. We should expect China to devise it’s own version of the ‘Monroe Doctrine’. I agree with Cohen in saying that economic interdependence, which did not exist during the cold war stand-off, could prevent confl ict. The problem is that many governments in the world and leaders are beholden to vested interests, banksters and the military industrial complex who dictate plans of action for such war scenarios. How it will metamorphose into a full blown confl ict is a matter of time. Let’s be vigilant for the signs and possible pretext to justify it.
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Food Security & Sustainability
Agriculture Today’s Banana
ars W By erick a. Fabian
Can the Philippine banana industry keep up the fight?
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ecent government politicking in the agricultural sector and Yolanda rehab czar Ping Lacson’s half-hearted efforts in disaster recovery poses a threat to the country’s banana industry. Even if the Philippines remains among the top five producers and exporters of bananas worldwide, alongside Ecuador, Uganda, and much recently, China, it is in danger of losing the battle because of several factors. For one, the damage done by past two years’ series of typhoons, with the recent one being Yolanda, has left a huge dent on the state of Philippine agriculture. Banana plantations were wiped out, leaving poor farmers with no other source of livelihood. The Philippines used to be one of the world leaders in banana production, even reaching as far as number two. The country produces the prized Cavendish crop, which is being exported to the US, Japan, South Korea, and several European countries. There is a recent report that Japan is making plans to import more bananas from African countries because Philippine bananas are becoming comparably expensive.
Fruit Politics
Several banana wars have been ongoing since bananas became cash crops. What most people think is an ordinary fruit is actually the object of political maneuvering and international disputes before it reaches our tables.
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In the 1990’s, when European countries limited the imports of bananas, companies sent complaints to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The United States responded by imposing a high tariff on European goods imported into the United States. Now that the Philippines has lost its position as second placer, other countries are arming up to sell their banana produce to fi rst-world countries. Efforts by the Department of Agriculture, such as encouraging local companies and schools to patronize the Philippine banana industry were admirable but may not be enough to sustain the local banana industry. The Aquino administration prefers to play politics rather than check its priorities,of which is that the banana industry should be prioritized in the Yolanda recovery efforts.
Pawn In The Game
It is suspected that Pnoy is placing the control of the Department of Agriculture to former senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan, a relative of First Pacific’s Manny Pangilinan, to favor specific foreign economic interests. A simple connect-the-dots will reveal that China is further extending its economic imperialism into the Philippines. China has joined the big banana wars and has placed itself in the top five producers and exporters of the world. China has placed ridiculously strict sanctions on bananas coming from the Philippines, more than its neighbor Japan and the United States. If this is not an act of sabotage for the local banana industry, then we don’t know what is. Giving Pangilinan control over the agricultural sector is sure to play into the hands of China’s plans for regional domination. Climate issues also factor into this, and funding for scientific research to produce more weather-resilient banana plants is crucial. There is a substantial demand for Philippine bananas in the United States, Japan and in other countries all over the world. If we cannot supply the demand, and our prices for the produce become too high because Malacañang chooses to put politics fi rst over agricultural priorities, then goodness knows how long before the local industry gives up the ghost.
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OPINION Coconut Hero From page 16
As a visionary, Castillo knows that allowing farmers to avail of a bigger share in the profits will defi nitely help them and their families in overcoming poverty. This is what drove him to create a program to train farmers on manufacturing coconut water, which is different from typical coconut juice. It comes from mature coconuts and contains more nutrients that can benefit a person’s health. Castillo even goes as far as to say that “It contains more nutrients than Gatorade.” One thing that Jun Castillo keeps reminding people is that it is not just a business, but part of his advocacy. He is clarifies that philosophy to those who talk with him about his restaurant business. As a social advocate, Castillo has been working with farmers in developing livelihood opportunities for more than thirty years. He is a passionate defender of the rights of coconut farmers. Jun Castillo is very much involved in his advocacy to the point that he has become an expert on the agriculture, history, and politics of the coconut industry. Castillo is a member of a society of advocates called the New Philippine Coconut Society. The group’s goal is to jumpstart a new coconut industry in favor of the farmers. In his vision of the new coconut industry, Castillo wants that all the properties of the coconut be used and nothing will go to waste. Rather than just producing copra oil, a cleaner oil can be produced – the recently popular virgin coconut oil, which can be used both for food, medicine, and beauty products. Jun Castillo says that he wants to replace the old coconut industry that favors only the few, with a new industry called the ‘fresh coconut industry’, which would benefit the farmers, the industry, and the nation. Castillo started out using coconuts in his ice cream business,
in a factory in his own backyard. This turned into The Ice Cream House franchise, which now has 85 outlets in. On the other hand, The Coconut House’s cuisine features dishes that all use coconut and are allorganic, organic agriculture being another of Castillo’s advocacies. Drinking coconut water has recently become an international fad led by Hollywood celebrities wanting to stay fit, but Castillo notes that in the Philippines, coconut farmers just throw away the water when making copra. “That’s 12 billion nuts every year,” he says, “which yields 4 billion liters of coconut water.” Castillo now goes to different provinces all over the country teaching the farmers how to make coco water concentrate. Castillo fondly thinks of coconut trees as “coconut cows,”. He advises that, if properly taken care of, ten coconut trees can provide a year’s supply of milk for a family of seven. Castillo encourages farmers to form cooperatives as part of his advocacy. He knows that if farmers are able to do this, they will make more than what they are earning from copra. His ultimate goal is to achieve social emancipation for poor Filipino farmers. “I want to transfer this business sense to the farmers. They can empower themselves without help of the government,” he shares. Castillo is open about the processes and dishes he has developed with anyone who asks, sharing freely and without fear of competition. He thinks of his endeavor as a social enterprise, where the business is established to both help people and earn at the same time – a concept that is more radical than the usual corporate social responsibility projects of most companies, who mostly do it for public relations purposes. Jun Castillo’s parting words to those who want to get into social entrepreneurship is: “We do business to help the country. We put the profits we make back into our social activities. That’s the type of
LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late
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Extrajudicially Settled by heirs as per Doc. No. 2; Page no. 4; Book no. III; Series of 2014, bfore Notary Public Atty. Ambrocio E. Pagtalunan of the City of Manila.
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Politics
The Voices of Change
Think-tank Expands Security Summit The Shangri-La Dialogue, convened annually since 2002, is now in its 13th year. In 2013, the The International Institute for Strategic Studies moved to expand the SLD from an annual summit meeting into a wider process. This has involved establishing two Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellows, inaugurating The Fullerton Forum: ShangriLa Dialogue Sherpa Meeting for senior officials from countries that regularly participate in the Dialogue, and starting a Shangri-La Dialogue Publications Programme. Regional Security Assessment 2014: Key developments and trends in Asia-Pacific Security is the fi rst IISS Strategic Dossier to be released in association with the Shangri-La Dialogue. It focuses on issues reflecting the most important themes to emerge from successive Dialogues, including: The evolving regional roles of the major powers, particularly the United States and China, but also Japan and India, among others. The dangers posed by potential flashpoints, notably the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan and territorial disputes in the East and South China seas. Pervasive low-intensity security concerns, from insurgencies
in Southeast Asia to transnational threats relating to maritime resources and cyber security. The crucial overarching questions of military competition in the region and how best to construct a more secure and stable regional order. This IISS Strategic Dossier underlines the extent to which the Asia-Pacific’s contemporary security environment is hugely complex, rapidly evolving and potentially dangerous. At the same time, it highlights the intractability of the most important security dilemmas, particularly at the inter-state level, and emphasises the need for sophisticated and agile policymaking, involving fresh initiatives, in order to prevent a further deterioration in regional security. It is intended that, together with the Fullerton Forum: Shangri-La Dialogue Sherpa Meeting and relevant aspects of the IISS research programme, this Dossier and its annual successors will reinforce the intellectual underpinnings of the SLD, as its ministerial and other delegates discuss the management of a regional security environment that seems set to become ever more complex and challenging.
• June 10 – DOJ Asst State Prosecutor Navera (The DOJ Resolution was also approved by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano Senio Deputy State Prosecutor Villanueva [DOJ TF Anti-Kidnapping Chairman.]dismisses the Serious Illegal Detention Case for lack of probable cause. Word circulates that P 150 M changed hands for the above dismissal – P 30 M for the NBI and P 120 M for the DOJ. • July 2 – Private Complainants fi le MR. • July 5 – The NBI fi les MR. • July 12 – 15 – The Philippine Daily Inquirer comes out with a series of Articles based on BLL’s Hard Drive Files given by the Luy’s on April 27, 2013 and the NBI Investigation of BLL. • August 6 – DOJ issues Review Resolution granting the two MR’s. On even date an Information is fi led before the Makati City RTC. • August 16 – Makati City RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo M. Almeda issues a an Order/ Warrant of Arrest under Criminal Case No. 13 – 1992 for Serious Illegal Detention under Article 287 of the Revised Penal Code. • August 28 – At 9:37 pm, JLN, guided by Sec. Lacierda, surrenders to PNoy at Malacanang. PNoy turns her over to DILG Sec. Mar A. Roxas and PNP DG Alan Purisima for processing and booking. After this, Sec. Lacierda allegedly called NBI
Director Nonnatus Rojas to resign. • September 2 – NBI Director Nonnatus Roxas tendered his irrevocable resignation to PNoy through DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima.
Napoles Corruption and Conspiracy; Napolist Cover up and Confusion!
I
n our past two columns we delved into the history of the expose of the PDAF, Pork Barrel and other JLN Scams. In the OpinYon Vol. 4, No. 37 (May 12 – 18) Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow column entitled “My Fearless/Fearful JLN Forecast!”, I forecasted that if JLN was brought back to the PNP SAF Camp in Ft. Sto. Domingo in Santa Rosa, Laguna, the whole truth would come out. However, if JLN remained at the OSMAK, Confusion and Cover Up would continue. While Makati RTC Branch 150’s Presiding Judge Elmo Almeda ordered last Tuesday, May 20, that JLN should be returned to Sta. Rosa by Friday, May 23, VIP detainee and patient JLN burst into a cacophony of ailments designed to prolong her stay at the OSMAK. Take note that as of our press deadline, Sec Lilia de Lima was asking for an extension of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s deadline (Thursday, May 22 to Monday, May 26.) for her to submit JLN’s supplemental affidavit. The preparation of the latter had been used by JLN’s lawyers as one of her excuses and/or reasons to prolong her stay at the OSMAK. However, Judge Almeda said that he had nothing to do with that as his case was just the Serious Illegal Detention Case. OpinYon’s Issue # 38 of Vol. 4’s (May 19 - 25) Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow column was entitled “Janet Lim Napoles Has Turned the Tide”. For a year
since the NBI rescued Benhur Lim Luy on March 22, 2013, JLN was on the defensive. A year after, on March 24 or 25, she took the offensive by sending her husband and children to Sec. Ping Lacson. With or without her knowledge, her camp has been giving or planting information, another list, pictures and witnesses to Sandra Cam, the Presidency of the Whistleblowers Association. In order to pierce through the confusion, manipulation and cover up, let us take a look at a Chronology of Events distributed by Sandra Cam at the FMF at the Club Filipino last Wednesday, May 21 (March to September 2013): March 1 – Benhur Lim Luy’s relatives, through Atty. Levito Baligod, wrote DOJ Sec Leila M. de Lima that their kin was being held captive by JLN and Reynald “Jojo” Lim’s group since Dec 19, 2012. March 8 – DOJ Sec LdL directed the NBI Special Task Force to investigate. March 22 – 15 NBI Special Task Force (under ARD Rolando Argabioso) Agents led by Agent Rodante Berou rescue BLL and arrest Jojo Lim but take him to St. Luke’s Medical Center, Global City due to complaints of chest pains. March 23 – NBI fi les serious illegal detention case on inquest before DOJ Senior State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva against JLN and her brother RJL. Assistant State Prosecutor
YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW Linggoy Alcuaz Juan Pedro C. Navera conducted the subsequent Preliminary Investigation where JLN was represented by Atty Jean Paul Acut of MOST Law Firm and RJL by Atty Alfredo L. Villamor. March 25 – Luy Family’s Atty. Levito Baligod meets w RJL’s Atty. Villamor. Baligod demands 38 M for dropping the charges and stopping the media publicity. March 27 – JLN meets Baligod. The latter demands P 250 M, facilitation of Canadian visas for the Luy Family, $ 1.5 M pocket money and P 30 M capitalization for BLL’s sister. The former rejected the Extortion. March 31 – Learned of the above and that if demands are not met, a negative campaign will be done in the media and press as well as among banking institutions. April 1 – 2 – Media Blitz starts, eg. Manila Bulletin, Phil Star and Interaksyon. • April 17 – JLN wrote PNoy. • May 28 – JLN, Atty. Villamor and DOJ Sec LdL’s ex – husband Plaridel Bohol meet with NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas at the latter’s office.
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The above resignation, specially its suddenness, was never satisfactorily or sufficiently explained. The same goes for the Administration demand for the Resignation of top NBI Officials and the removal of two Assistant Directors in the wake of the above. Legally, the reversal of the June 10 DOJ Resolution by the Aug 6 Review Resolution cannot also be explained. It can only be explained by the July 12 – 15 PDI Expose series on the JLN PDAF, Pork etc ... Scams. Meanwhile, the DOJ and NBI officials who had sold out could feel the public indignation building up through both the mass media as well as the social media, leading up to the Monday, August 26 One Million People March to Luneta. Thus, do we have Double Cross # 2 for JLN. Double Cross # 1 was the Benhur Lim Luy Sideline or even Breakaway from the Napoles Illegal Business Empire. Double Cross # 3 is the non fulfi llment of the terms of surrender agreed upon on August 28. Over the past weekend JLN was waiting for even a partial or token make up for the broken promises and unfulfi lled and unrequited “Utang na Loob” incurred in the May 2010 Presidential Elections.
OpinYon
may 26-june 1, 2014
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GameChanger
SECTIONS NATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 HEALTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AGRICULTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 FOREIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
JUN CASTILLO
Coconut Hero
J
un Castillo’s Coconut House is a restaurant business that represents his advocacy to change the coconut industry and help poor Filipino coconut farmers. Mr. Castillo tillo says that the 3.5 million coconut farmers in the Philippines are some of the most impoverished in the country, despite the coconut industry making up 20% of the country’s agriculture.
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He remarks, “Only the big businessmen benefit from the industry.” Castillo laments that the Philippine coconut industry is only involved in developing only one part of the coconut, the copra. It is used to make soaps, detergents and explosives. The rest of the coconut is thrown away, despite being a valuable source of raw materials. Castillo’s dream is to create a new industry in which all elements of the coconut are utilized and developed into new products. He feels for the hard-working local coconut farmers who engage in the backbreaking work of raising and harvesting coconuts, only to get so little, that it is not even enough to send their children to school and improve their families’ lives. Turn to page 14
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