The education sector has been one of the most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the threat of the transmission of the virus among schoolchildren, all schools were shut down as early as March 2020. It was not until October 2020 when the schools reopened, albeit not the face-to-face classes that we know, but…
Agriculture remains one of the hardest-hit sectors since the pandemic struck in March 2020. With usual supply routes cut off due to protocols and mobility restrictions to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, most farmers have experienced difficulty moving produce to various markets around the country, including Metro Manila. San Miguel Corp. (SMC), which last year…
With the persistent threat of the coronavirus pandemic, the need for a steady food supply has never been more apparent. But as Filipino farmers continue to put themselves in the crosshairs of the disease, they are continuously met with systemic challenges, including the lack of postharvest facilities and irrigation systems, the increasing cost of producing…
The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing many industries to change the way they think and do business. Amidst the uncertainties, companies are “going digital,” but many have found themselves overwhelmed by new technology and processes. One local agrienterprise, however, found the perfect formula to marry tradition with innovation: by looking to the past to secure the…
October is also known for another beverage. We have been celebrating Philippine coffee since President Fidel Ramos declared October as coffee month in 1997. In malls, promotional activities include free coffee every day for two to three weeks. The nonprofit Philippine Coffee Board Inc. (PCBI) was established in 2002 by then Agriculture Secretary Cito Lorenzo…
Technology may have saved—even boosted—some businesses during the pandemic, but agriculture has yet to make full use of its potential to increase production, reach out directly to markets and buyers and keep abreast of scientific advances. At the recent Project Rebound webinar, panelists noted that , much less adopting, new technologies. But they also expressed…
The absence of large foreign institutional funds in the local bourse has opened up attractive opportunities for domestic-based retail investors looking for value. At present, many are taking advantage of and benefitting from this gap in the Philippine stock market. If given a chance to invest in shares of stock that are aligned with your…
At the recently concluded 12th Mansmith Market Masters Conference, we asked three seasoned marketers – Kakam Gabunada, Vice President of Nestle Philippines; John Rubio, Country Director of Facebook; and Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls in the Philippines and China – about trends that will emerge in 2022 and beyond. Here is a summary of…
External trade jumped by a fourth to $16.5 billion in August not only due to base effects but also to recovering shipments as the domestic and global economies rebounded from their pandemic-induced slump. The Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) latest preliminary data on Tuesday showed a in total trade last August from $13.2 billion a year…
(Second of two parts) Looking at the country’s top business groups, 11 out of 13 delivered better earnings in the first semester compared to last year, and majority of them attained more than half of market analysts’ consensus forecasts for the full year. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and DMCI Holdings, for instance, delivered in the…