Food Security update on the Philippines

It is more fun criticizing

Food security in the Philippines

We think the govt is strict about food security.   We are a developer and they are very slow on acting 

on land conversion.

More can be done regarding food security:

1.   Supply and demand projection, and planting and production schedules

2.  Tariff protection

3.  Improvement of infrastructures:   and inputs:

    1.  fertilizer and seeds

    2.  Fingerlings, piglets, and cattle

    3.  Strengthening what exists and making them work

    4.  Cold storage

    5.  Solar pumps

    6   Post harvest facilities

    7.  Supply chain

    8.  MBA in Agri courses

4.  Scientific farming:

   1.  Greenhouses, with irrigation

   2.  High value added crops

   3.  Hydrophonics and drip

5,  Corporate farming

It is good that some big companies like MVP group are paying attention to food security.   However their is with high value coco products:   MCTs and buko juice.

Finally Jollibee Food Corporation chicken plant made profit

The CP farms of Thailand have been doing good in the Philippines

6.  Adoption of new technologyies

    Substitute for rice

Comeuppance of two Mannys in broadcast industry

It is more fun criticizing

The first Manny who acquired TV 5 from a former PLDT mogul has been reportedly bleeding ever since he acquired it.  The second Manny who acquired the free TV frequency of a TV giant it seems, as it is now also facing difficulty   Although he acquired expenseive talent for his new network, it seems that only 5 months into the game, he is scrapping their program

MV launches All tv

TV 5 a decade of losses and disappointment

You can be good in many things, but not in everything.   Perhaps, only the Lopezes and the Duavits are good in broadcasting   

Masuwerti Meralco nang mabili nang bagong grupo

It is more fun criticizing

The trending tirade vs MVP and Ayala, two of biggest tycoons, billionaire in the country, highlights the monopoly and control of the tycoons on the economy.   Both virtually have control over the telco regulator, and may be even the energy regulator.

We may not be privy to the goings on between and among regulatory bodies and Meralco and others involved in power sector.  But reports have it that the main reason why the Lopezes sold Meralco was its difficulty in getting rate increases under GMA.  (GMA Govt planning to take over Meralco?

Govt sat on the request of Meralco for rate increase for 8 long yerars

The Lopezes sold out to the MVP group who eventually had 53% control of the company.  And lo and behold under MVP Meralco became very profitable because it got a provisional increase under the new administration.   Meralco was soon presided by a veteran former CEO of energy company and engaged in a lot of innovation (founding a collection company, internet via power lines)  prepaid electricity and many many more like outsourcing of linemans activity through its retired employees..

Going slow on big businesses - let us have statesmen and gentlemen running our country

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines
December 11, 2019

PD30 wants dialogue with water company

                                            Paano mo iboycott ang telco at expressway at 2big?

                                                  Grabe naman ang wish na ito.  


It is is still a democratic govt.  The revolutionary govt, thanks God is not yet in place.  (I understand a former colleague is the mastermind of this.  Bah)

This post is bothered by the sudden change of heart of the Presidency vs two of the largest business in the Philippines:  Ayala and the Metro Pacific.  Since they are all over the place and affecting the lives of people:  telco, infrastructures and water.   All of a sudden a large portion of the society, in social media owing to the sentiment and emotion carried by difficulties with the basic commodity, are ganging up vs Ayala and Pangilinan, and may be very soon with other businesses.

The two behemoths are in the process of large infrastructure project - the skyway linking North and South Express way.   Ayala is building communities for the masses and had major projects in Davao  Let us not forget the jobs they have created and taxes they have paid not to mention the solution to some of our problems.   Talk about gratitude.

Definitely the two large water companies have their lapses and may seem predatory and scandalous in their contracts.   I am no friend of this two guys what with: slow internet (Smart and Globe) and our town with water supply from Manila water. Who am I to say the contracts the past administration in 1997 are not onerous? Who is not without faults and defects.

But to kick them out and replace them with Prime Water, whose services are not that examplary and way below of Manila Water and  Maynilad is unfair and capricious and does not stand well with the rest of citizenry.

Same thing with ABS CBN. non renewal of franchise.  Certainly the Presidency carries with him the mandate of people and these businessmen and their employees also have people who need employment and jobs.

We want to see statesman as our leader.  Not vendetta kings or Megalomaniac emperors.   Time to be more circumspect.   Hinay hinay lang bay...

Businessmen, entrepreneurs, just find your place between the earth and sky.

Social and political criticisms

This is to comment on MVPs  parting ways with AdeMU and SJ.

I would say that he just got too close with them. SJ and the church represents the sky;  businessmen the earth.

The proper position for businessmen like MVP as, the graduation song of AdeMU suggests, is to stay between the earth and sky.

Granting millions and all out support for SJ/AdeMU will not affect the stand of SJ on social and  religious issues.  That is their job. Fr. Magadia, the SJ superior,  said discernment (Jesuit Paper)
 is needed for them to have independence  in their thinking.  The same discernment I think, is demanded of the businessmen, though how close they are to the clerics.
 

And the  businessman can not accept all the idealism of the religious.  There are issues that require   pragmatism:   profits, efficiency cost, expediency.  At some point in time, east and west can not meet;  if they do there will be friction and fire.

This split  between MVP and the SJ, I predicted, would  come sooner or later;   the split came 20 years after.

That is one abject lesson of this experience.  Businessmen  can not pretend to be scholastics or be generous or be be compassionate.  They are businessmen. They have to be viable.  They have to survive.  And sometimes at all costs.  They can not be holy despite all the donations/CSR, for somewhere, their business practices will fall short of the ideals.  And that is where the clerics discernment is clearly needed.

Really, ever since 20 years ago,  MVP and the SJ did not share anything in common;  that is the brutal fact.  MVP is graduate of SJ;  but that does not make him an SJ as a tycoon.  He has his own place in the world of power and wealth.

Businessment, tycoons must  just find their place between the earth and sky.

Sorry for pontificating even though I am not pontiff, nor a sage nor a cleric.

Malacanang hopes MVP will stay

Social and political criticisms

From PHL Journal

Malacanang through its spokesperson Abigail Valte hopes business tycoon MVP will consider and not move his business away from the PHL.  MVP owns several major utilities:   PLDT, Smart, Meralco, North Luzon Expressway.   One could just imagine its effect on PHL economy if the shares were dumped at the stock market to be liquidated.

MVPs name was dragged in the JPE-Trillanes tiff over the China backdoor negotiations.

MVP also parted ways with Ateneo on issues over mining laws and RH bill.

One of the golden rules/advice for managers to sometimes let problems unravel by itself.  Time has a way of setting things straight.  Ego can stand in the way sometimes; or pride.

This corner too hopes MVP, as a true patriotic Filipino, as he has always been will change his mind.

Malacanang hopes MVP will reconsider and stay

On making rash decisions?

MVP withdraws total support for Ateneo de Manila University

Social and political criticisms

From Philstar

Philex chairman and business tycoon Manny Pangilinan, an Atenean, a former head of the institution Board of Trustees, expressed disappointment over the alma mater stand on mining, in a letter addressed to  Ateneo President Jett Villarin.

There were disagreements also on stand over the RH bill. MVP supported RH bill;  Ateneo carried the CBCP anti RH bill stand.

There were other issues like the plagiarized speech for the graduates on the 150th year of Ateneo.

This is a sad day for AdeMU who enjoyed a lot of financial support in sports and cap ex development.

What will AdeMU leadership do to bridge the funding gap?

Was AdeMU, were the SJ right in standing for what is right?

MVP and AdeMU do not share any similar interests?

InterAksyon on the split

MVP to move business operations back to HK?

Social and political criticisms

From Yahoo News on MVPs plan to repatriate business to HK

Business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan, chair of various mega business in the Philippines:   TV 5, PLDT, etc planned to move his business operations back to HK.  His name was dragged into the backdoor negotiation with China on territory dispute.  He was allleged to be urging Sec. del Rosario to be pushing for anti China position.

The Senator said  MVP was said to be going to profit from this stand being the Philex chairman.  Philex won the contract to explore the disputed territory.

What would be effect of this plan of MVP?

Is he serious? Will he push through with this plan?

Why did he withdraw his support all ready to Ateneo (where he used to sit as its Chair)?

Will our politics continue to be his virulent?  When will our public officials be mature and positive?

House Leader appeals to MVP not to move operations to HK

Backdoor; Pangilinan, Trillanes, MVP