The country’s commodities sector could be in for another volatile year in terms of prices although stakeholders remain optimistic that the year of the water rabbit brings with it some semblance of stability.
Lawyer Patrick Ty, chief regulator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office, is hoping for “continued adequate water supply and the expansion of waste water services in concession areas.”
As for Joseph Yu, president of SN Aboitiz Power Group, he is hopeful the sector will enjoy “a healthy and prosperous year of the rabbit” in the months forward.
“May we have a closer and more collaborative journey towards realizing the country’s aspirations to increase renewable energy and attain energy security,” he said.
Alexander Ablaza, president of the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance, is cautiously optimistic that the energy sector will likewise enjoy a better response in accelerating energy efficiency investments and technology deployment down the line.
“After the crippling effects of the pandemic, energy efficiency businesse and energy service companies feel that this year could start to trigger a significant rise in demand for technologies and capital due to the steadily growing awareness of designated establishments and their obligations and aspirations to reduce their specific energy consumption,” Ablaza explained.
He added that the increased awareness is driven by the Department of Energy’s mandatory energy audits of commercial, industrial, transport and public sector entities for their compliance to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act.
On the other hand, lawyer Bong Suntay of Clean Fuel hopes that the “resiliency” of Filipinos, paired with lower fuel cost can help in easing the financial burden of the population.
“May oil be in abundance so that prices may go down and bring with it the price of electricity and other commodities,” Suntay said.
Suntay mentioned that Flipinos have already gone through a lot since 2020, starting from the Taal Volcano eruption, the Covid pandemic and the coming and going of typhoons, among others.
Likewise, Gerry Tee, chairman of the Ethanol Producers Association of the Philippines, said he is hopeful for the government to recognize further the importance of biofuels not just in pulling down the price of petroleum products but also its contributions to better health of Filipinos and lower carbon emissions.
Tee said the most important move allowing the local biofuels sector to continue its operations is to at least lower the cost of lien slapped against imported molasses which is the raw material for the manufacture of biofuels.
Tee said such a move is important as the local production of molasses at present is also not enough to meet the total demand of the biofuels sector.
Lunar new year elicits optimism among agri stakeholders
Local agricultural stakeholders all agree that the year of the water rabbit can bring a badly needed recovery for a sector that has experienced numerous challenges in recent years.
Tony Tiu, president and chief executive officer of Agri Nurture Inc., said that 2023 could prove a golden year for local agriculture.
“Agriculture is now at the front and center of President Marcos’ administration and it conveys to us stakeholders, a positive, progressive and encouraging message that despite the challenges we face, there are imminent and workable solutions coming. Let us make good nutrition accessible, available and affordable for all Filipinos through locally grown produce,” Tiu said.
Meanwhile, Edwin Chen, president of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, said he hopes and longs for the local hog sector to “rise above all our challenges and we’ll be able to move forward to re-populate and be sustainable in supplying the protein needs of our countrymen.”
On the other hand, lawyer Jose Elias Inciong, president of the United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA), said he hopes for the policy makers, especially the economic team, to “transcend its ideological and doctrinal biases in favor of import liberalization, which caused the decades-long neglect of Philippine agriculture.”
“We need to implement the laws passed by the Congress for the agri-fisheries sector over the years. This is the only way to address issues of unfair trade, smuggling and competitiveness,” Inciong stressed.
The UBRA chief also said he hopes for the Philippines to have food sovereignty and no longer vulnerable to the vagaries of world trade, geopolitics and climate change.
However, Jess Cham, president emeritus of the Meat Importers and Traders Association, hopes for the government to move away from “food sovereignty/protectionist policies” and instead pursue food security to provide affordable and nutritious meats for all consumers.
“Of course everyone is hoping for a profitable year. I hope that the Ukraine war will be resolved. Also, that the China Covid situation will normalize. This will help stabilize the global meat markets,” Cham said.
