ILAGAN, ISABELA— A university professor here is said to have produced the biggest ulang or fresh river prawn in the country.

Enrico Santos harvested 12 pieces of ulang (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) per kilo, breaking the existing record harvest of the Bicol region which registered 20 pieces per harvest, according Small Entrepreneur Technology Upgrading Program (SET UP) director Urduja Tejada..

SET UP is a nationwide strategy of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to encourage and assist small and medium entrepreneurs to adopt technological innovations to improve their operations and boost their productivity.

The project is in collaboration between with DOST and the World Fish Center, which provided technical assistance through the latter’s Aquaculture Scientist Hermogenes Tambalque.

“We assisted five other regions in the country including Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and SOCCSARGEN and this is the first time we were able to harvest such sizes,” Tambalque said.

Santos already has a ready market for his prawn produce, which he intends to sell at P350 a kilo.

From his 600-square meter pond, Santos will be able to net an income of P40,000 or a return of investment of 75 percent. He said he will develop another pond for his ulang because of the farm’s profitability.

“Ulang production can be the best alternative source of income at the same time increase fisheries production at a time when the catch in municipal and marine waters is dwindling,” Tejada said.

During the first two months, Santos spent 40 bags of commercial feeds until DOST and World Fish introduced to him a method called “green feeding technology.”

Under this method, vegetable waste are chopped and blanched as an alternative feeds to the prawns. The technology produced significant cost savings and from buying 40 bags previously, Santos only used four bags during the last two months of the operation.

DOST provided Santos with 4,000 pieces of post larvae ulang which he seeded in June.

Tejada said that through the success of Santos, other fish farmers will likewise venture into ulang culture as alternative or complement to rice and corn production.

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MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA – While the majority of Filipinos who access the Internet still use traditional platforms such as desktop PCs and laptops, there is a small but growing number of users who use mobile devices, especially smartphones and tablets.

About 12 percent of all Internet users in urban cities in the Philippines access through mobile phones while one percent use tablet PCs.

Access on mobile devices among Filipinos, especially those between the ages 16 and 20 years old, is driven by social networks such as Facebook. Other major age groups that access Facebook are those between the ages 21 and 24 years old.

A steady decline in usage follows those who are in older age groups.

Overall, at least 54 percent of Filipinos in urban cities have used the Internet. About 71 percent from the A, B, and C socio-economic class are using the Internet. Surprisingly, even those in the lower socio-economic levels (51 percent) are still able to access the Internet.

Of course, the most widely used service would be Facebook, which accounts for over 98 percent of all Internet users in urban areas.

It is estimated that around 12.2 million Filipinos have access to the Internet.

These results came from samples of an upcoming report by market research group Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) entitled “TNS Digital Life 2012.” It surveyed 72,000 consumers from 60 countries regarding their Internet access and purchasing behavior and includes a portion on Philippines wherein around 1,000 individuals from urban cities were interviewed.

The full TNS report would be officially released in the next two months. However, the early release of these samples provides a glimpse of the Filipino Internet behavior.

One aspect of the study showed that in terms of media consumption, digital platforms are outperforming radio and print versions. For instance, 45 percent of those surveyed said they connect to the Internet daily compared to listening to radio (35 percent) and reading newspapers (12 percent) and magazines (4 percent).

Only TV remains a dominant medium with 89 percent of the survey’s respondents saying that they watch TV every day.

TNS Philippines Managing Director Gary de Ocampo noted the value of a growing base of Internet users in the Philippines especially when it comes to purchasing products. While online trading remains low, searching for products to buy is a major activity when going online.

He noted that in many cases, purchasers depend on their on their social networks for brand information and reviews. At least 59 percent of social network users depend on information from social networks.

Given the level of Internet use among urban-living Filipinos, this alludes to opportunities for consumer brands to focus on building their social network campaigns. Mobile Internet users also tend to open new possibilities for consumer brands.

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QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – After call centers, the government wants to grow outsourcing opportunities in health information management, finance and accounting services, human resource, and animation and game development.

Call centers make up the fastest growing and most dominant outsourcing sector in the Philippines with about $11 billion in revenues in 2011.

Department of Science and Technology – Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICT) Executive Director Louis Casambre said that following the growth of the contact center industry in the past decade, the four industries mentioned would be provided with several support mechanisms to help them grow.

These include recruitment marketing for more potential employees, workforce core skills development, long-term roadmaps, and utilizing global competitiveness assessment tools.

While nearly 80 percent of all outsourcing revenues came from contact centers – including over 400,000 employees – Casambre believes that the Philippines can still very well compete in the other outsourcing sectors.

However, Casambre acknowledged the importance of the contact center industry as one of the main reasons why the country became an outsourcing powerhouse.

In fact, the industry provided 5.4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product in 2011 and is expected to contribute another 8.6 percent in the next three years.

“We are expecting BPO not only to contribute significantly to the GDP in the next five years, its most significant impact would be on employment,” he said.

“Our programs are not limited to that of industry but also improving the quality of our graduates and improve their chances of landing jobs not only in the BPO sector but in other industries as well,” Casambre added.

The Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPA/P) is eyeing to generate around $25 billion in export revenues and another 1.3 million outsourcing-related jobs until 2016.

BPA/P chairman Alfredo Ayala stated that the government’s role in working with private firms is necessary to ensure growth in the outsourcing industry.

The ICTO presented its ICT Industry Development programs to senior DOST officials last December in which Science Secretary Mario Montejo said he would have other DOST agencies coordinate with the ICTO.

The ICTO was formerly the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) that was absorbed by the DOST in mid-2011. Prior to being absorbed, the CICT presented its Philippine Digital Strategy 2011 that was supposed to be the roadmap for all government-related ICT policies.

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MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA— The Philippine Automotive Competitiveness Council Inc. (PACCI) has high hopes of transforming the country into a  manufacturing hub that can compete with neighboring countries.

An industry road map presented during the Third Automotive Manufacturing Summit aims to upgrade the local industry from an assembly of “completely knocked down” (CKD) units to an outright manufacturer, which can compete with other countries under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

CKDs are units imported or exported in parts and are assembled in target countries.

Vicente Mills Jr., president of both the Philippine Automotive Federation and the ASEAN Automotive Federation, emphasized the need to “shift gears” to address the declining share of locally manufactured vehicles (LMV) in the domestic market.

Sales of LMVs declined from 96 percent in 2000 to 44 percent in 2010.  New vehicle registrations for 2010 also tallies only 75,000 units that LMVs, or a third of the industry’s total production capacity.

PACCI’s roadmap consists of three principal stages starting with the local market buildup phase, which will include an extension of incentives for complete vehicle, parts and components exports.

Next is the expansion of local vehicle sales and of exports of the selected models for local manufacture.

The third phase will focus on the integration of the local automotive manufacturing sector into the regional vehicle, parts and components sourcing network of the brand principals.

The latter  aims to establish domestic production facilities of auto parts currently not available in the local market to achieve regional competitiveness of the country’s industry.

“We must build and/or expand capabilities in manufacturing critical parts such as vehicle body stampings, injection molding of large parts, engines, suspension and steering systems and other parts that we don’t currently produce in the Philippines,” Mills said.

A strengthened partnership between the government and the private sector is also an important aspect in ensuring the success and sustainability of the drafted industry roadmap.

“We can and should aim to become an alternative ASEAN production hub. We have the strengths – a total production capacity of 250,000 units annually and an abundant supply of skilled manpower in the field of auto and auto parts and components manufacturing,” said PACCI chief Feliciano Torres.

Vehicle demand is touted to reach at 300,000 units by 2015 and can help improve the country’s economic scale through increase in local production and export revenues.

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TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYAN— The Cagayan Valley region still remains the country’s prime cereal producer with an average growth rate of ten percent a year and an annual production of 1.3 metric tons that could even surpass the corn production of Northern Mindanao.

An agriculture-based region, Cagayan Valley represents nine percent of the country’s total land area with 26,837 square kilometers and with an annual growth rate of 1.85 percent from 1995 to 2000.

The region, under the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle program, was assigned as a “major agricultural bowl” given the abundance of agriculture lands suitable for growing traditional and high value crops.

“The region is on the right track as far as cereal production is concerned. The performance could have been better if not for the annual flooding of our farms,” said Milagros Rimando, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) regional director.

The National Food Authority (NFA) also assured that there are enough stocks of rice in the region, which make it as the “most food secure region” in the country today.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said that the annual palay production in Cagayan Valley, second only to Central Luzon, has increased by an average of 3.2 percent from the average production of two million metric tons.

In 2008 alone, Cagayan Valley produced a record 3.8 metric tons of rice, some nine percent higher than the national average yield of 3.48 metric tons per hectare of production, DA reported.

It should be noted that while these figures were comparatively higher than the country’s average yield, it is far from the seven metric tons per hectare of palay and 12 metric tons of corn harvested by other Asian countries, the DA said.

“With the aging of the region’s irrigation systems and the rising cost of construction materials, upkeep of these systems would be costlier.”

“The construction of new irrigation systems to attain wider irrigation coverage would not be enough if the region cannot continuously repair and rehabilitate its old irrigation systems, affecting the region’s palay productivity,” Rimando warned.

This is the challenge faced by the government and other key players of the grains industry in the region.

“The modernization of agriculture is essential to reduce poverty in the region,” NEDA said.

DA, through the National Irrigation Administration  has increased the region’s irrigation coverage from 40 percent in 2006 to 53 percent in 2008.

The Regional Development Council of Cagayan Valley listed rice production in its investment promotions plan along with livestock, poultry and fisheries.

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KALIBO, AKLAN – Piña cloth producers and manufacturers in Aklan are expected to benefit from geographical registration planned by the Intellectual Property Office Philippines (IPOPHL).

A Geographical Indications (GI) program is given to a product originating in a territory, region or locality where the product’s quality, reputation or characteristics is “essentially attributable to its geographical origin,” said lawyer Jesus Antonio Ros of IPOPHL.

“There should be a relationship between the territory and the product and that is what the GI is about,” Ros said.

A GI-registered product proves that it is original or genuine, but no one can apply for GI if he or his group is not from the place or locality identified with the product. The GI could either be owned by the local government unit or a producers’ cooperative, which will then regulate its use.

In the case of Aklan, this initiative stands to benefit members of the Hugod Aklanon Producers Association Inc. (Hugod).

Increased income, market access, and employment generation—from the piña planters, leaves harvesters, extractors and to weavers—are just some of the various benefits to Aklanons after becoming GI-registered, according to Ros.

Upon application for GI registration, studies would be conducted on the conditions prevailing why the piña cloth produced in Aklan is better than those from other provinces.

The leaves of the Aklan native pineapple plant are extracted for its strong fiber used to weave the piña cloth.

In this connection, studies of Aklan’s soil, climate and other factors that contribute in the production of good, quality piña cloth should also be conducted before the product gets GI registration. All the information from the study will be placed in a “Book of Specification”, said Ros.

Ros also urges interested groups in Aklan to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Science and Technology for the conduct of the study.

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LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA – The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) has released funds in support for the study and development of the organic muscovado industry in Western Visayas.

The P2.89 million grant will be used for its science and technology (S&T) program headed by the Negros State College of Agriculture (NCSA) for one year.

The first component of the program will involve a comprehensive analysis of the muscovado supply chain in Antique.  This will be followed by a benchmark study in Queensland, Australia which has the biggest concentration of organically managed sugarcane farms worldwide.

The second component will be a technology demonstration of organic sugarcane production for muscovado processing in Negros Occidental and Antique.

Trials will be conducted in fields to demonstrate organic sugar production and S&T interventions on land preparation, choice of variety, nutrient management and pest control management.

This particular technology will be promoted in field demos to encourage other farmers in the region to do the same.

Results will be compared to the farmers’ existing method of sugarcane production, as well as costs and returns involved in the practice and recommendations.

Farming communities will also receive training on skills enhancement and capability in organic muscovado processing courtesy of non-government organizations like TRIAS and Insol Development Foundation.

This is expected to aid sugarcane farmers in improving their cultural management practices, increase their volume of production and raise their income.

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DAVAO CITY, DAVAO DEL SUR – Unknown to many, a humble farmer in Davao was the first to export coconut sweetener to the United States. Citing demand for a healthier alternative to ordinary sugar, Benjamin Lao is looking to expand his export business to Europe and Japan.

In 2009 alone, Lao, the owner of Lao Integrated Farms that manufactures Donnabelle coconut sugar and coconut syrup, shipped ten drums containing 2,000 liters of coconut syrup to the US.

The popularity of the coco syrup is quite phenomenal in the United States and Australia. Demand is continuously increasing with shipments now averaging at 56 drums every 60 days, according to Lao.

Demand for coconut syrup is expected to continue as the market is expanding from households and restaurants to include manufacturers of chocolate bars in the United States.

Apart from pancakes, waffles and chocolates, coco syrup is being used as sweetener for other food products in restaurants and also for industrial and pharmaceutical purposes, both here and abroad.

By February, Lao said he would expand his export market to Germany and other European countries, which also also big markets for organic products. He is also in talks with buyers in Japan.

Lao earns an average  of P2.5 million every shipment. The profit from the coco syrup production contributes to the growth of his small-scale business, which has P10 million worth in current assets.

His business employs 35 employees and 86 coconut harvesters in his 30-hectare farm. Responding to the challenge or rural jobs generation in his area, he was able to give stable livelihood to 100 families in the community.

Coconut harvesters or toddies earn from P6,000 to P20,000 a month depending on their harvest.

“The farm has changed the lives of the coconut toddies here,” Lao said. His farm has provided farmers with extra income to send their children to school and buy motorcycles for transportation.

Aside from the coco syrup, the farm also manufactures the Donnabelle coco sugar which is being patronized locally by the Dragon Recipe Choice and Prangels Snack Inn, both in Digos City.

Both coco sugar and syrup products are also being consigned at the stores of the New City Commercial Corp. (NCCC) and Bios Dynamis Foundation in Davao City. Major malls in Bohol and Samar in the Visayas are also carrying the products.

Recognizing the health benefits of low glycemic index of coconut sweeteners to people with diabetes and hypertension, the products are also used in two hospitals in Cebu.

Lao personally attests to the efficacy of the coco sugar, saying that constant use has lowered his  hypertension. His neighbors and other regular users of the coco sugar from the other barangays in Bansalan also attest to this.

“My blood pressure has become stable, and I’m not taking medicines anymore,” Lao he said.

The Southern Philippines Adventist College in Matanao, Davao del Sur is conducting a study on the therapeutic benefits of coco sugar and syrup among diabetics and hypertensive persons.

Get more information on Lao Integrated Farms

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LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY— Legazpi has been included in the top ten “next wave” cities for business process outsourcing after scoring high in terms of cost of doing business and availability of physical information and technology (IT) infrastructure.

Legazpi is tied with Dumaguete City in 10th place in the rating card of industry group Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP).

At present, Legazpi is considered as a “feeder city” providing qualified manpower to other cities with existing outsourcing industries, according to city mayor Geraldine Rosal.

“The talent pool here is an indication that the city has more than enough qualified manpower to supply the needs of existing outsourcing industry which makes it sensible to grow its own industry,” Rosal said.

Legazpi has two proposed IT parks: the Embarcadero de Legazpi and the Legazpi Information and Communication Technology ( ICT) Park, which could house facilities for outsourcing companies that want to expand outside of Metro Manila.

The donated building by Bicol Hair in Barangay Bonot is also a potential office for outsourcing companies, according to Mayor Rosal.

“The accessibility of the city from land air and sea transport from Manila and Cebu plus the presence of reliable and dependable telecommunications providers is an important factor for potential BPO investors to locate in the city,” she said.

Legazpi also produces over 4,000 college graduates every year and is also a center of higher educational institutions of the region.

Today, many college graduates from the city end up working in Manila call centers due to lack of suitable jobs here, according to the city employment office.

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QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA— The rising global demand for coco-based biodiesel presents an opportunity for local farmers who will be given an additional 13.8 million coconut seedlings to be planted this year.

A fraction of the planted trees will be utilized for the production of coconut methyl ester (CME) or coco-biodiesel, said Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) deputy director Carlos Carpio.

The coconut planting will be implemented under the National Coconut Productivity Program, which seeks to increase the country’s coconut production. Last year, some 3.11 million coconut seedlings were planted under the program.

Coco-biodiesel is a lighter fuel containing no odd-number carbon atom so it is more volatile than diesel. The substance has 11 percent oxygen, which “greatly assists combustion,” Carpio said.

The Department of Energy announced on its website that coco-biodiesel provides for more efficient combustion, increased engine power, longer mileage, and less emission in cars.

There are 12 CME biodiesel producers in the country that are DOE-accredited. Of this, only nine have started commercial production as of 2011.

“The total capacity of nine CME plants of 392.6 million liters exceeds CME demand by 63 percent or 144 million liters in 2011 at two percent blend,” Carpio said.

As the country implements the ten-percent biofuel blend, market demand for coco-biodiesel and other biofuels will continue to rise.

Aside from attaining energy security, the development of bioenergy sources like coco biodiesel in the country is expected to create additional 89,000 jobs for Filipinos and to benefit 577,000 farm families.

About 32 percent or 3.4 million hectares of the total agricultural land in the country are planted with coconut, according to a 2009 study of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics.

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