Sustainable consumption: Time to check buying habits

Jul 14, 2024 02:59 AM

  

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We are living amid a problem of unsustainable consumption, and its waste surrounds us, among them rolls of plastic, packaging material, and fashion clothing.

This problem became more apparent during the pandemic when online shopping became the only way to acquire goods.  After that, the door to reach consumers at all hours of the day was opened, and packaging – mostly plastics – that will keep the newness or freshness of a product, added to the waste generated by households. 

Sustainable consumption is Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No.12, part of the 17 goals which aim to transform our world.  In 2015, all the countries in the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The goals are a “call to action to end poverty and inequality, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy health, justice and prosperity.”

Sustainable consumption has become a major concern these days because of consumer behavior in online shopping. In June 2020, global retail e-commerce traffic reached a record 22 billion monthly visits and a staggering $26.7 trillion in sales, Earth.org said. What draws consumers to buy online are: price, speed, and convenience.

“By the end of this year (2023), Asia is set to account for 50 percent of the world’s total online retail sales, most of which take place in China, currently the world’s leading country by retail e-commerce sales. Singles’ Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday are just a few examples of the initiatives that push consumers to buy more and more goods,” the Earth.org article published in December 2023, “The Truth About Online Shopping and Its Environmental Impact,” said.

The problems brought by the convenience of online shopping are many.  The packaging of products contributes to CO2 emissions from producing plastics, polluting ecosystems and adding large amounts of waste to landfills.

The article cites specifics: “Three billion trees are pulped yearly to produce 241 million tons of shipping cartons, the forest conservation group Canopy found. And of the 86 million tons of plastic packaging produced globally each year, not even 14 percent is recycled.”

One area where unsustainable consumption is generating large amounts of waste is in fashion, specifically textile.  A recent report said that in China, the world’s largest textile producer and consumer, “more than 26 million tons of clothes are thrown away each year, according to government statistics. Most of it ends up in landfills.”

The report further said that “textile waste is an urgent global problem, with only 12 percent recycled worldwide, according to fashion sustainability nonprofit Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Only one percent— are recycled into new garments; the majority is used for low-value items like insulation or mattress stuffing.

The problem has been traced to the fast fashion trends and the convenience and speed of online shopping. 

In 2019, the UN Environment launched the Sustainable Consumption and Production Hotspots Analysis Tool that allows countries to see “hotspots” of unsustainable practices in consumption and production. The online application analyses the environmental and socio-economic performance of 171 countries over the past 25 years to provide scientific evidence of areas where improvement can be made, the UN agency said.

We need to stem the tide of unsustainable consumption by reshaping the buying habits of consumers who need to be engaged into becoming responsible stewards of the earth’s finite resources.
 

The time for innovation is now!

Published February 28, 2023, 12:05 AM

by Manila Bulletin

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “The only constant in life is change.” And if he were to update this based on current circumstances, he would’ve added the word “innovation.” Change, simply defined, is the act to be different. But innovation is bringing that act one notch higher, toward a better form, toward a better place.

In tech-driven times, we always hear about innovation. “Innovate, or perish” is the mantra of so many companies who have survived changes brought about by life-altering circumstances. In our history, these events are plenty — introduction of the computer, arrival of the hand-held gadgets, connection to the internet, to the emergence of artificial intelligence. Amid all these, what made huge corporations or small businesses survive and thrive is innovation. Without it, they cease to exist as the conditions are different from what they were accustomed with before.

Innovation, however, need not be in the realm of businesses alone. It is high time for the Philippines to develop an “innovation ecosystem,” which is currently championed by National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General and Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. 

Balisacan made this remark during the National Innovation Council’s (NIC) first meeting under the Marcos administration last Feb. 21, 2023. Unknown to most Filipinos, there is an NIC, which is composed of 25 members, with the President as chairperson and the NEDA director general as vice chairperson. The rest are composed of 16 ex-officio members and seven members from the private sector.

Formed in 2019 under the Duterte administration, the NIC is “tasked to develop the country’s innovation goals, priorities, and long-term national strategies.” It is quite a surprise, or puzzling maybe, that its first meeting under the new administration is only the NIC’s fourth meeting since its creation (disrupted maybe by the pandemic). Now, wouldn’t it be more “fruitful” to have more meetings on innovations in the coming months?

All is not late, hopefully, as the NIC’s meeting was presided over by the President, who concurred with the important role of innovation to ensure economic growth, competitiveness, and resilience amid worldwide upheavals.

Balisacan said that one of our major challenges as a country is that “we have not paid much attention to innovation” and that the Philippines lags behind its neighbors when it comes to innovation.

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To address this challenge, Balisacan said: “What we want to happen is that we have an ecosystem that encourages, promotes… and helps them locate funds, access to credit… so that good ideas can be supported.” There is an Innovation Fund, which is a revolving fund aimed to support enterprises that are developing innovative solutions.

The NIC also presented to the President the important features of RA No. 11293 or the “Philippine Innovation Act” and updates on the formulation of the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document (NIASD). The NIASD “outlines the country’s 10-year vision and long-term goals for innovation and serves as a detailed roadmap toward improving innovation governance.”

“These documents aim at enabling a strong innovation governance to drive the innovation ecosystem toward (our) goals of a smart and innovative Philippines that is productive, resilient, and sustainable, as well as inclusive,” Balisacan said.

With this promising start, may the path to embrace innovation be smooth and steady. As a country, we have to innovate, before it’s too late! Otherwise, we suffer the disgraceful consequence of irrelevance on the world stage.

Beware of cyber scams, ‘clickbaits’ this holiday season

Published December 15, 2022, 12:02 AM

by Manila Bulletin

The most wonderful time of the year need not be the most horrific, traumatic, and exhausting experience of your life, especially when you get the shock upon discovering that your credit card has already been “maxed out” with purchases that you didn’t do.

It is this time of the year that the Philippine National Police (PNP), led by its Anti-Cybercrime Group, is warning the public to be more cautious against online scams and clickbaits — those used by virtual scammers to lure victims, knocking on their generosity (and vulnerability) in this season of giving. 

“Scammers will take advantage of special days or major events like Christmas to fleece people of their money or personal information,” according to a statement from the PNP. “Be cautious every time you get an email (that) asks you to click on a link. Exercise due diligence especially this holiday season as you are making online purchases. Make it a season of awareness to everything around you. Do not easily trust.” 

The PNP reminds netizens of the various popular holiday season scams that they should look out for. There are “online shopping scams,” where scammers will set up fake online stores or post goods for sale in buy swap-sell groups or online classified sites to trick people into buying items that do not exist.

“Many of these websites offer luxury items such as popular brands of clothing, jewelry, and electronics at very low prices. Sometimes you will receive the item you paid for but they may be fake. At times, you may receive nothing at all. A newer version of online shopping scams involves the use of social media platforms to set up fake online stores,” according to the PNP. 

Tugging at the heart of innocent victims, the PNP warns of a high volume of “fake charities scams” this December. “Fake charities are among the most popular holiday scams, soliciting from consumers over the phone, email, and through direct mail. Scammers will pose as either agents of legitimate well-known charities or create their own charity name. Scammers set up fake websites, which look similar to those operated by real charities.” Some scammers may call or email you and request for donations or even ask for your credit card details.

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Awareness is just half of the battle. The PNP further advises the public to exercise due diligence — going directly to the official website of a hotel or airline; researching about the charity before sending a donation; withholding of personal info, credit card details, or online passwords to strangers; avoiding clicking on dubious links that promise easy money or fast return of investments, etc. 

Just 10 days before Christmas, scammers are working double, even triple time to siphon your hard-earned 13th month pay and bonuses. They are even working 24 hours as effective Dec. 27, 2022, users are required to register their SIM cards within 180 days from the effectivity of the law, with an extended registration period of not longer than 120 days.

Being extra generous this season may be acceptable, but not to online scammers, fraudsters, and hackers who are on Santa’s “naughty” list. May they be gifted with the full punishment of the law and celebrate future holidays behind bars.

‘Kadiwa sa Pasko’ outlets support gov’t efforts to control high inflation

Published December 7, 2022, 12:05 AM

by Manila Bulletin

Editorial

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has stepped up his campaign to ensure stability of food prices by leading the Department of Agriculture’s program of establishing Kadiwa stores nationwide. He pointed out that Kadiwa outlets will continue to offer basic goods at lower prices beyond the Christmas season, and declared that this effort will be sustained until markets can finally match food prices at the Kadiwa outlets.

Fourteen outlets – 11 in Metro Manila and in Tacloban City, Davao de Oro and Koronadal City in South Cotabato – were opened the other week. As reported by the Philippine News Agency: “At least 28 more Kadiwa stores will be opened next week as the government intensifies efforts to provide farmers and fisherfolk additional profits, and local consumers quality yet cheap basic commodities this holiday season.” 

Stemming the inflationary tide is the government’s primary concern especially that the country’s inflation rate remains elevated at 8.0 percent in November from 7.7 percent in October.

Most key consumer products registered faster inflation in November, particularly for food and non-alcoholic beverages, which accelerated to 10 percent from 9.4 percent in the previous month.

Prices of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses jumped 25.8 percent, the highest since January 1999’s 5.6 percent. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the substantial uptick was a result of lower production brought about by the onslaught of typhoons and higher cost of inputs. Similarly, sugar production was still reeling from the damage caused by recent typhoons, Balisacan added.

As reported by the PSA, inflation for food at the national level increased from 7.7 percent in September to 9.8 percent in October compared to 4.0 percent in October 2021. As the overall rate hovers into the double-digit zone, the inflation rate for specific food items has indeed become worrisome. 

Noteworthy is the relatively low inflation rate for rice at 2.5 percent. Recall that President Marcos has set his sights on a ₱20 per kilo price level for the Filipinos’ staple food. In contrast, corn price inflation is at a very high rate of 27.4 percent. Cagayan Valley, the leading corn producer in the country, has not yet fully recovered from the severe damage inflicted by Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) in late 2020 affecting 34,800 hectares of agriculture and aquatic area, resulting in losses estimated at more than ₱1 billion worth of rice, corn and other high-value crops submerged in flood and mud.

The 34.4 percent inflation in prices of sugar, confectionery and desserts is also concerning. Recall, too, that the need to augment local sugar supply was one of the first issues tackled by President Marcos after he took office last June.

Indeed, keeping food prices stable is a top-priority government concern. Enabling Filipinos to buy staple food items at reasonable and affordable prices is a most timely gift to them for this Christmas season.

Is the worst of the pandemic over? We can only hope so!

by Manila Bulletin

News articles and government announcements coming from our neighbors, such as Thailand and Vietnam, paint a rosy prospect for the tourism, hospitality, and retail industries in the coming months. It seems businesses in general couldn’t take any more restrictions and lockdowns, so the best way that their governments have handled the situation is to bring back a sense of normalcy and allow their citizens to adapt to the new normal way of life.

Thailand’s Public Health Ministry, for example, has just proposed easing of COVID-19 curbs in light of the diminishing threat of the Omicron variant. This allowed businesses to open at longer hours and to serve more tourists.

Thailand’s situation is also similar with the Philippines, as our country’s IATF has already placed NCR plus seven other provinces under the less strict Alert Level 2.

The Alert Level 2 classification will be imposed until Feb. 15, 2022. This announcement seemed like a “booster” for the local businesses, a shot of adrenaline to awaken the humdrum state of the economy. Now, malls, restaurants, and hotels are coming up with Valentine’s Day packages and promotions, wooing weary Filipino couples to have some fun in the Month of Hearts. Normally, we wouldn’t mind this but seeing businesses get excited is heartening news, since this also means more Filipinos are employed, more business people are recuperating their losses, and more enterprises would be able to thrive and survive.

The Alert Level 2 decision in NCR, according to the Department of Health (DOH), is due to the fact that there was a decline in new COVID-19 cases and an uptick in vaccination rates, especially with minors being allowed to have a vaccine jab.

With all these positive developments, the question asked by many is this: “Is the worst of the pandemic over?” Judging how some European countries such as the UK, Spain, Germany and Denmark reacted, it seems that their response is “yes,” as they have started the process to downgrade COVID-19 to endemic status. London, for example, now allows its citizens to go out in public without face masks. Denmark completely lifted all health restrictions, including the wearing of masks.

The World Health Organization (WHO), on the other hand, is adamant that these “sudden moves” to reclassify COVID-19 as endemic are not helpful, especially as “many countries still have low vaccination rates and whose unvaccinated citizens are many times more at risk of severe illness and death.”

“Omicron may be less severe,” said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, “but the narrative that it is a mild disease is misleading, and hurts the overall response and costs more lives. The virus is still circulating far too intensely with many still vulnerable. Countries must remain calm as the next few weeks remain critical.”

Dousing plans for end-of-pandemic celebrations, the WHO chief believes that the pandemic is “nowhere near over and with the growth of Omicron, new variants are likely to emerge.”

Looking at both sides of the coin — businesses calling for more mobility and lesser restrictions; and health experts calling for more caution and lesser freedoms — there seems to be no agreement if the pandemic is already at its end stages. So what do we do? As citizens who have grown weary of the past 22 months with on-and-off lockdowns and erratic imposition of restrictions, will we endure more months or another year of the pandemic? Or should we just go ahead with our lives and try our best to adapt with the new normal situation? Time can only tell.

Careful rumor mongers

Reprint from Mindanao Daily Mirror, published September 2-3, 2017 with friendly permission from the publisher.

EDITORIAL

Beware rumors mongers, you could now land in jail. This after President Duterte signed into law Republic Act 10951 which constitutes the amendments of the Revised  Penal Code. The law carries harsher penalties of crimes among others, treason which is now punishable by reclusion perpetua to death and a fine of at most 4 million Pesos, and spreading of false news found to endanger public order or cause damage to the interest of the State either thru publication  or utterances. The spread of fake news or unlawful utterances entails the penalty of arresto mayor (imprisonment of one month and a day to six months) and a fine of ranging from 40,000 to 200,000 Pesos. The prevalence of fake news recently in this country pushed lawmakers to declare it as criminal act.

Making fake news crime is a welcome development provided it would not be abused merely as a means for the fulfillment of certain political interests. This law also faces the danger of being abused as means to harass people out of personal grudge. Worse comes to worse, it could be used as a means to pin down political  detractors or enemies of state who are out to divulge irregularities of certain government officials or personnel. Thus, implementation of this law should be handled with extra caution to avoid thumping onto one's rights. There is a big tendency the spread of vital information against crooks in government could be easily charge to fake news, thereby curtailing one's right to freedom of speech. This is not cynicism since the above negative circumstances are big possibilities.

For all intensive purposes, fake news as a crime provides a tough lesson to rumor mongers who intend to color other people black. These people should be dealt with accordingly and be given a dose of their own medicine to let them realize how hurting it would be to be maligned in public. Meanwhile R.A. 10951 also penalizes a public officer who is guilty of revealing secrets of a private individual by arresto mayor and fine not exceeding 200,000 Pesos. This specifically pertains to a quidnunc who has the obsession of meddling into one's personal life for an ulterior motive only known to him. This law with any luck would stamp quidnuncs out.

Business as usual

SAT, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

(With friendy permission for re-posting from the publisher Marietta F. Siognco)

EDITORIAL

The opening of the  three-day PhilConstruct Mindanao 2016 , the biggest building and construction exposition in the region yesterday at SMX Convention Center proved wrong people are terrorized by the recent deadly blast at Roxas Night Market.  Over 500 hundred exhibitors composed of locals and foreign companies and brands have booked weeks earlier before the dates of event.  Sadly, on September 2, the horrendous explosion occurred.  But the  event organizer  as well as the exhibitors were not intimidated by the incident.  They said “The show must go on.”  The event which is the biggest construction exposition in Davao Region is expected to draw about 10,000 visitors in three days.

“Up to yesterday (Thursday) everybody scrambled for booth slots.  So this indicates they were not cowed by the bombing incident,” Event Chair Engr. Ramon Allado said.  He said the event also shows life must move on after the bombing.  The Mindanao construction sector continuously holds the exposition every year in the city in the light of the booming construction industry.  With the increasing number of exhibitors and visitors, the sector is confident this would keep on next year.   Professionals from the construction industry are looking forward for the yearly PhilConstruct Mindanao expo being the venue for the discovery of updated quality construction equipment and ideas.

Local officials were very thankful the big business event pushed through despite the recent terrorist attack in the city.  They are happy about the positive outlook of the business sector to stand up and be strong against terror.  They are also thankful for their trust and confidence on the city’s security even after the blast. The huge event and more upcoming major events in the city prove false the city is not anymore livable.  Life is still here after the attack.  People must not nurture fear out of the sad incident for this would mean victory to the perpetrators.

Unity

WED, MAY 11, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR

EDITORIAL

History unfolds in Davao City with its mayor for decades, Rodrigo Duterte to sit as the country’s new President by June 30 after being favored by more than 15 million Filipinos and counting on election day, May 9.  It’s history for it’s the first time that the country’s president comes from Mindanao. It was a tough battle muddled with black propaganda that if it did bite, could have ruin the political career of the mayor. But it did not, in fact, the voters’ preference for the mayor shoot up. The dirty political scheme didn’t work to the dismay of his detractors and victory for his supporters.

However let bygones be bygones. The offering of friendship and healing by the mayor to his opponents which reflects the soft spot in him behind that robustness is proof he deserves the presidential post. Now that the people has made its judgment to all candidates, it would be best for everybody especially the losers to respect it.  Accept and forget the pain of defeat. The country has a lot of problems to address. How could the new leaders fix this ailing country if it remains polarized fueled by bitterness and hate.

The stigma of dirty politics should be unleashed to pave the way for unity and reconciliation. This is easier said than done most especially to those who were victims of smear campaigns. But what else is new in Philippine elections. Dirty campaigns have been there since time immemorial.  The politicians should have got used to it and just chew on all the election campaign residues for a  day or two, then move on.   Proclamation of the winners of the 2016 elections will be completed in next to no time.  Speed up the healing and buckle down to work.

CONFUSED

(Today's Editorial of Mindanao Daily Mirror - with friendly permission of my publisher and editor-in-chief 'Tita" Marietta Siongco.)

What is with us?

We pretend to defend decency in public office, yet we condone abominations like a midnight appointment. We mouth motherhood statements about the blight of corruption, yet we whine about bold measures aimed at weeding out the crooks. We purport allegiance to the Constitution, yet we use, nay misuse, the same sacred instrument to compromise earnest efforts to better our society. We say one thing, yet mean another.

This sums up our pathetic national discourse over the last months. For how explain the rank inanities favoring such a widely discredited figure aas Chief Justice Renato Corona? What must we make for the throng that lapped up his street language late last week, clinging to his post as if he were the High Court itself, and taking the President, no less, to task as a -take note- dictator?

How else explain the public statements of such bodies and individuals like the IBP (which cavalierly invoked the constitutional principle of separation of powers, as if any of those institutional powers were beyond criticism), Sen. Joker Arroyo (who, not unlike, of all people, Sen. Bongbong Marcos, critized the Chief's Justice's impeachment at the House), former Sen. Nene Pimentel (who said he wasn't happy with the swift impeachment process), and confessed GMA friend Fr. Eliseo Mercado (Mindanao's very own peace advocate who painfully noted that Gloria Arroyo was being "demonized as if she were the personification of evil.")

Are we missing something?

... .

We're a confused people - unworthy of, or desperate for, principled, modern leadership.