Under JICA’s Technical Cooperation for Grassroots Projects (TCGP), the “Project to Develop Cacao and Chocolate Industries for Peace in the Bangsamoro Region” will run from January 2026 to January 2028 in collaboration with Hiroshima University and local cooperatives. The initiative focuses on strengthening the region’s emerging cacao and chocolate industry—seen as a viable pathway to inclusive growth and peacebuilding.

At its core, the project supports community-based cacao farmers in improving bean quality and adopting better post-harvest and processing practices. This addresses long-standing challenges in parts of Mindanao, where pests, diseases, and environmental pressures have affected productivity and income stability. By equipping farmers with technical knowledge and practical skills, the program aims to create more resilient and sustainable livelihoods.

Two cooperatives will serve as pilot sites. In Maguindanao del Norte, Al Noor Salam (Light of Peace) Farm will receive targeted support to enhance production consistency. In Lanao del Sur, Kakaw Meranaw will refine its chocolate-making processes and elevate product quality. Technical training—led by Hiroshima University—covers cultivation, fermentation, drying, and quality control.

Hands-on training is already underway, with the first session held in Tupi, South Cotabato from March 27 to April 1, 2026. Farmers from Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur are participating in intensive learning sessions designed to strengthen both production and processing capabilities.

Selected participants will also undergo advanced chocolate-making training in Japan, enabling them to transfer specialized skills to their communities. Central to the initiative is the concept of “Chocolate for Peace,” which positions cacao not just as an agricultural product but as a catalyst for community empowerment, social cohesion, and future market readiness.

Beyond farmer training, the project also strengthens institutions. MAFAR personnel are participating in technical sessions and remote consultations, while a regional cacao research and support network will be established across Western Mindanao to address persistent issues such as pest and disease management.

JICA said it hopes the initiative will lead to sustainable, community-driven business models for high-quality, branded cacao and chocolate from Bangsamoro—demonstrating how agriculture can contribute directly to peacebuilding.

The project also forms part of broader Philippines-Japan cooperation as both countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, underscoring a shared commitment to human security, inclusive development, and lasting peace in Mindanao.

I’ve read with bitter contempt how farmers are affected by this crisis — and the anger sits heavy because the facts are as plain as they are unforgiving.

In Benguet, a Reuters story carried by an online news organization recounts how farmers like Romeo leave their vegetable crops to rot. And all because the math of cost and profit no longer makes sense.

When it costs P18 to P20 to produce a kilo of cabbage and the farmgate price collapses to as low as P3 — even P5 to P8 on a “good” day — harvesting becomes an act of self-sabotage. Add to that the surge in fuel prices, itself a ripple from conflict in the Middle East, and the math turns cruel: labor, hauling, packaging — all rising, all eating into nothing.

So farmers stop. Buyers pull back. Consumers, squeezed by inflation, shift to cheaper, filling alternatives. And just like that, a food chain buckles from both ends.

This is why the Department of Agriculture’s fuel subsidy, finally rolling out this April, is not just welcome — it is necessary, justified spending. It promises P5,000 for farmers, P3,000 for fisherfolk, alongside a broader P10-billion cash aid program covering over 4 million beneficiaries, which is the kind of intervention that recognizes a basic truth: You cannot expect food security from producers who are bleeding.

During the Holy Week, I’ve heard of Catholic devotees trimming their Visita Iglesia routes, choosing churches closer to one another, even walking the distance, just to save on fuel. Quiet sacrifice and real adjustments are lived by Pinoys these days, knowing inflation bites, and soon the cost of food will be the bigger scourge.

Hopefully, those in government, so fond of long motorcades and frequent travel, might consider the same discipline. If meetings can be held online, perhaps they should be — stay at home, if you can’t travel without your exaggerated security convoy.

Spending should be back where it should be — with the farmers. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. says the government is doing more: mobilizing trucks to move produce, securing cheaper fertilizers, expanding Kadiwa outlets, fast-tracking farm-to-market roads, and post-harvest facilities. These are the right moves, at least on paper.

But more should be done by those in power who never tilled land nor brought crops to market. Local governments in agricultural provinces must now do the unglamorous work: Connect farmers to these subsidies, ensure the aid reaches the fields, not just the reports. This is taxpayers’ money — it must land where the pain is.

This crisis is already punishing enough without fuel. But to fail in producing our own food — in a world where supply chains are strained and imports uncertain — would be a deeper scandal.

The government must work doubly hard. And if it does — truly, decisively — perhaps this moment becomes something more than a crisis. Perhaps it becomes some form of redemption. Yes, even for Marcos Junior.

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SHORT BURSTS. For comments or reactions, email firingline@ymail.com or tweet @Side_View via X app (formerly Twitter). Read current and past issues of this column at https://www.thephilbiznews.com

When you listen to the story behind Mekeni Food Corporation president Pruds Garcia, it does not feel like a typical business narrative. It reads more like a story about people — about families who had to leave, quiet sacrifices, and a longing that never truly fades.

True to his name, Garcia embodies the values of P.R.U.D.S.: purpose, resiliency, uplifting others, discipline, and stewardship.

For many Filipinos, working abroad has never been just about ambition. It has always been about responsibility. Parents leave so their children can stay in school. Families are sustained from a distance. Their decision is anchored on two things: survival and hope — survival in enduring homesickness to provide, and hope in the promise of one day embracing loved ones again.

In an exclusive interview with THEPHILBIZNEWS, Garcia shared that Mekeni continues to create opportunities not only for employees, but also for vendors who support their own families through the business.

This reality has shaped not just livelihoods, but generations of consumers.

This writer remembers being an ordinary student, enjoying Mekeni tocino before school. Years later, meeting one of the pioneers of the Philippine food industry feels like a reminder that life often comes full circle, and that sometimes, the unexpected tells the best stories.

Garcia recalls how their journey began from the ground up after the 1991 Pinatubo eruption. He returned to the Philippines after a call from his father to help run the family business. It was not an easy choice, but driven by love for family and a sense of stewardship, he took the risk.

Over time, Mekeni found a deeper purpose. What they built was not just a food brand, but something that reconnects people to where they came from.

“We want to bring back the memories back home, because we realize people who are working abroad do not [always] have the chance to go home.”

That intention became real in a chance encounter. Garcia once met a Filipino in the United States buying Mekeni’s fish balls and kikiam.

It was a simple moment, but meaningful. The man shared how the products had been part of his early struggles in the Philippines: “I want to tell the story to my family, and now they are also benefiting [from the fruits of the struggles], and they have a good life in the United States.”

Stories like this reinforced a deeper truth. Garcia even handed his business card to the man and encouraged him to learn more about the company’s journey, emphasizing that, “when they see the product from the Philippines to create memories, this is not by accident.”

Through something as simple as food, fragments of home are restored. A meal becomes a memory. A familiar taste brings back stories long untold. Even from across the world, people remain connected.

This perspective also shapes Garcia’s leadership. For him, resilience is learned and lived.

He shared another deeply personal story: After 23 years, they were blessed with a daughter, Faith.

She became a reminder to never give up, to keep believing even when the odds seem impossible. That same belief continues to guide how decisions are made and how the company moves forward.

Even in uncertain times, the focus is not just survival, but purpose: building a community that grows with impact. More than four decades of commitment to food safety and quality have positioned Mekeni as a pillar of the Philippine food manufacturing industry, bringing staple products across the country and to Filipinos worldwide.

Looking ahead, the company is eyeing expansion into Taiwan and Hong Kong to serve overseas Filipino workers.

In the end, Mekeni’s story reminds us that home is not always a place we can return to.

Sometimes, it is something we carry, with every shared meal, every memory, and every intention shaped by care.

And in its #TimplangAtin, that sense of home endures — even from miles away.

The funding is part of the government’s reintegration push, particularly for workers affected by the Middle East crisis, enabling them to start or expand small businesses upon returning home. The assistance was awarded during the “Bayanihan para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa: A Reintegration Network Fair,” which gathered various support services for repatriated Filipinos.

Facilitated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the initiative highlights a growing policy direction: transforming OFWs into enterprise owners as a pathway to long-term financial resilience.

Early beneficiaries represent a diverse mix of micro and small enterprises—from a water refilling station and pharmacy to food kiosks, printing services, construction supplies, and specialty food production. The range of businesses reflects how returning workers are tapping familiar community needs while leveraging skills gained abroad.

DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque emphasized that reintegration efforts go beyond financing, stressing a “whole-of-government” approach to ensure OFWs have access to opportunities, training, and continued support upon their return.

Through its financing arm, Small Business Corporation (SBCorp), DTI has earmarked ₱2 billion for the OFW Negosyo Fund. The facility offers loans ranging from ₱30,000 to as much as ₱20 million, depending on the borrower’s business track record and funding requirements.

Designed to encourage enterprise growth, the program features flexible terms, including optional grace periods of up to 12 months, zero collateral for loans within set thresholds, and repayment terms of up to five years—helping ease the financial burden on startup entrepreneurs.

Access to financing has also been digitized, with applications available through the SBCorp Money App and its web platform, streamlining the process for OFWs wherever they may be.

For hands-on assistance, more than 1,400 Negosyo Centers nationwide provide business advisory services, from planning and registration to market linkage.

As more returning OFWs turn to entrepreneurship, the fund signals a broader shift—positioning them not just as returning workers, but as key drivers of grassroots economic growth.

The grant will finance the Promoting Growth, Resilience, Economic Stability and Sustainability in the Philippines (PROGRESS) Program, Australia’s flagship initiative aimed at supporting inclusive and climate-resilient economic growth in the country.

Under the program, funds will be used to reduce barriers to doing business, support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), strengthen government institutions, and advance reforms in key sectors such as energy transition and critical minerals.

The Subsidiary Arrangement for PROGRESS was signed by Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go and Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown.

The DOF said the grant is designed to address long-standing challenges, including slow formal job creation, income inequality, and systemic barriers affecting women, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups, while also helping the country navigate global uncertainties and climate risks.

A key component of the program is support for private sector growth, particularly through easing regulatory bottlenecks and expanding SME investments in clean energy, climate mitigation, and other high-growth sectors.

The program will also provide technical assistance to build institutional capacity, climate finance mechanisms to mobilize investments, and a Strategic Activities Fund (SAF) to support research, innovation, and targeted reforms.

Implementation will be overseen by the DOF in partnership with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with support from key Philippine agencies including the Anti-Red Tape Authority, Department of Energy, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development.

The DOF said the initiative is expected to translate into more quality jobs, stronger businesses, and a more resilient Philippine economy.

The collaboration forms part of Maya’s flagship sustainability initiative on women’s financing, aligned with its broader push to improve financial health among underserved sectors.

Under the partnership, Maya will expand access to digital financial services—including payments, savings, and credit—while SPARK! Philippines will provide training, mentorship, advocacy, and community-based support. The initiative recognizes that enabling women-led businesses to thrive requires more than access to capital alone.

“This is a segment that is heavily driving economic activity but still remains underserved,” said Toff Rada, Head of Corporate Affairs at Maya. “Our focus is to support women-led micro businesses in ways that reflect how they actually operate—through tools that help them manage, grow, and sustain their income over time.”

For its part, Maica Teves, Executive Director of SPARK! Philippines, emphasized the importance of holistic support. “Women micro-entrepreneurs are already driving economic activity in their communities, but many still face barriers beyond access to financing. By working with Maya, we aim to bring training, mentorship, and community-based support closer to them.”

Women play a vital role in the country’s micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector, with studies showing that more than half of small businesses in the Philippines are owned or led by women. MSMEs account for 99.5% of all registered businesses, employ around 63% of the workforce, and contribute roughly 40% of the country’s economic output, based on data from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Despite their significant contribution, women-led enterprises remain underserved. A 2023 study by the Asian Development Bank found that only about 28% of women-led MSMEs adopt digital financial services, compared to 44% of male-led businesses—highlighting persistent gaps in access to tools that support growth and financial resilience.

Maya’s own ecosystem underscores the opportunity to close these gaps. More than 90% of its nationwide Maya Centers are operated by women, many of whom run sari-sari stores and other neighborhood enterprises.

Through the Maya Business app, MSMEs can accept digital payments, manage transactions, and access financial services in a single platform—streamlining operations and improving cash flow. Eligible businesses may also tap short-term credit through Maya Advance to support working capital needs such as inventory restocking and daily expenses.

The partnership reflects Maya’s broader approach to financial inclusion—expanding access to financial tools while ensuring these are used effectively to help women entrepreneurs grow sustainable businesses and build more resilient livelihoods.

This was highlighted during the Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrances Association of the Philippines (CTFAP) Summit 2026 held at Acacia Hotel in Alabang from March 11 to 12, where industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders gathered to map out the future of the personal care industry.

Representing DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque, Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona emphasized the government’s continued commitment to strengthening the sector, particularly its many MSMEs.

She underscored the Department’s role in fostering a business environment that encourages innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability among Filipino enterprises. She emphasized that the DTI remains steadfast in supporting the cosmetics, toiletries, and fragrances industry by providing programs and services that help businesses navigate regulatory requirements, enhance product quality, adopt digital technologies, and expand their market reach.

Lantayona noted that MSMEs remain the backbone of the Philippine economy. Citing a 2024 Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report, she said approximately 99.63% of registered businesses in the country are MSMEs, generating 66% of total employment.

Many players in the beauty and personal care sector, she added, started as small, homegrown ventures and have since evolved into competitive brands serving both local and international markets.

Recognizing this potential, the DTI continues to roll out initiatives aimed at strengthening value chains, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and helping enterprises compete in an increasingly innovation-driven global marketplace.

These efforts are especially critical in the personal care industry, where product development, safety compliance, and branding are key to building consumer trust and expanding market opportunities.

The Department’s programs are aligned with Secretary Roque’s Five-Point Strategic Agenda for MSMEs, which focuses on accelerating e-commerce and digitalization, promoting innovation-driven product development, advancing sustainability and green practices, strengthening entrepreneurial capacity, and expanding market access across ASEAN and beyond.

DTI also underscored the importance of continued collaboration with industry groups such as CTFAP to ensure Filipino beauty brands remain competitive, compliant with international standards, and responsive to evolving consumer demands.

At a press briefing, DTI Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty said that the annual retreat allows the Philippines to set regional priorities, advance initiatives that support national interests, and strengthen economic cooperation with ASEAN’s partners.

“On the retreat proper, the Philippines participation both as AEM Chair and AEM Philippine Lead, provides a good opportunity to reaffirm our steadfast commitment to advancing a more resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centered ASEAN,” Gepty said.

Among key areas to be discussed during the Retreat are the Philippine Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs), which Gepty described as the highlight of the meeting.

“The PEDs cover a diverse range of areas of trade such as energy, agriculture, strategic trade management, MSMEs, and artificial intelligence, and ASEAN’s efforts to advance the sustainable and green agenda,” Gepty said.

One key PED is Greener Future – Implementation of the Regional Investment Promotion Action Plan 2025-2030, which Gepty said aims to make ASEAN a single destination for sustainable investment, accelerate green transition, and promote inclusive growth.

Another major deliverable is the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), the region’s most comprehensive agreement on digital economy and e-commerce.

“It aims to create a digital environment that is open, secure, interoperable, competitive, and inclusive,” Gepty said.

Gepty also cited the ASEAN Semiconductor Roadmap, which aims to strengthen regional value chains, develop skilled workers, and position ASEAN as a global hub for semiconductor investment.

Other PEDs include the ASEAN Center of Excellence for Creative Industries (ACE–CI), the ASEAN Center of Excellence for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, and energy initiatives under the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) to improve energy connectivity.

The Retreat will also discuss a Leaders’ Declaration on Strategic Trade Management for Secure Regional Trade to regulate trade in sensitive goods and technologies, particularly those that can be used as biological weapons and weapons of mass destruction.

“Strategic Trade Management will ensure that these goods will not fall into the wrong hands. A robust Strategic Trade Management increases the trust of foreign investors and companies, secures access to strategic technologies, and protects high-value sectors of the country,” Gepty said.

Recognizing that the Retreat comes at a critical time amid recent global developments, Gepty said, “ASEAN remains central to these developments, and plays a vital role in shaping the global economy. Thus, showing our united resolve as we navigate our future is a strength in itself.”

Through the partnership, GSIS stakeholders will have a dedicated channel to access SMF’s livelihood and community reseller programs, which are also open to other interested participants nationwide.

Qualified applicants may become community resellers of SMF products for as low as P2,000, with no franchise or royalty fees required. Participants will gain access to a wide range of trusted food products, including hotdogs, nuggets, bacon, corned beef, luncheon meat, ice cream, cheese, margarine, salad aids, and coffee mixes. Selected partners may also offer Magnolia Chicken products, including Magnolia Timplados.

For aspiring entrepreneurs aiming to start larger ventures, food cart packages featuring Tender Juicy Hotdogs are available starting at P11,120 for indoor booths.

More established food business concepts are also available, including Purefoods Deli, The Cozy Kitchen by Purefoods, and Star Nutri-Meats.

Additional livelihood opportunities include baking enterprises through San Miguel Mills Homebakers using Bake Best premixes, as well as ventures in pet care and agriculture such as Nutri Chunks pet food and the B-MEG Hog Raising Program, which provides access to quality feeds and technical support.

GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso said the initiative aligns with the institution’s mandate to help strengthen the financial security of government employees and pensioners.

“What we are doing is connecting our members with a credible, established partner that can provide a real path to additional income,” Veloso said. “At a time when many families are looking for practical ways to manage rising daily expenses, this partnership offers an opportunity to build a more secure future.”

San Miguel Corporation Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang said the collaboration reflects the group’s continued commitment to uplifting Filipino families.

“Government employees play an important role in serving the Filipino people. Through this partnership, we want to help them create additional sources of income that can strengthen their families’ long-term security,” Ang said. “It is one way to help more Filipinos build something of their own, with trusted brands, practical training, and support along the way.”

The livelihood packages are designed to be simple and accessible, with guidance on business operations, customer service, store setup, and day-to-day management for participants who choose to become community resellers, food cart operators, or home-based bakers.

All approved participants will undergo training in basic operations, food handling, customer service, and store management. Site visits and application reviews will also be conducted to ensure that proposed locations are suitable for the business.

Interested GSIS members and partners may apply by submitting a letter of intent indicating their chosen livelihood package and target location, along with copies of valid government-issued IDs, via email to sanmiguelfoodsbusiness@sanmiguel.com.ph.

Applications will be reviewed by the San Miguel Foods operations team prior to approval and rollout.

By bringing together GSIS’ mission of supporting its members and San Miguel Foods’ experience in building trusted food brands, the partnership provides GSIS members, pensioners, and their families with a practical pathway to additional income and improved financial stability.

Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr., chairman emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, made the appeal during a live radio interview with Brigada News FM Manila on March 4.

Ortiz-Luis said suspending fuel excise taxes would provide immediate relief to businesses and consumers as global oil prices rise due to geopolitical tensions.

He noted that unlike many countries that subsidize fuel and electricity, the Philippines imposes taxes on these sectors, adding to the cost burden.

“Excise taxes can be removed for now,” Ortiz-Luis said, adding that the government has reported progress in recovering funds lost to corruption-tainted public sector projects.

He said suspending fuel taxes would benefit both rich and poor and could be a more effective response than expanding financial assistance or “ayuda” programs.

Ortiz-Luis warned that micro enterprises—accounting for about 90% of businesses in the Philippines—are likely to be the hardest hit by rising fuel costs.

“If we invest in the micro and small enterprises, they can grow and there won’t be a need for dole-outs,” said Ortiz-Luis, who is also president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc..

For long-term energy security, he urged the government to revisit proposals for domestic oil exploration and consider nuclear energy as part of the country’s future power mix.

The appeal comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following military strikes involving the United States and Israel against Iran in late February, which triggered retaliatory attacks across the region.

Analysts warn the conflict could push global oil prices higher and disrupt supply chains, posing risks for oil-importing economies such as the Philippines. It could also affect remittances from overseas Filipino workers based in the Middle East.