FFAIR TRADE NEWSLETTER

The Fair Trade movement in the Philippines is deeply concern about the plight of the Small farmers everywhere and especially in this country. Concerned NGO are publishing advertisements to persuade Philippine Government negotiators to the next round in Cancun Mexico to fight for justice in trade and resist the spread of unjust trade practices. Many government official are thought to be enthralled by the foreign multinational corporations and the ruling elite who allow foreign domination of the economy.

Globalization is so unfair that open markets here cannot compete with the heavily subsidized food products flowing into the local economy. It is not a fair playing field. US farm subsidies make it impossible for Filipino corn producers to compete with the American corn where farmers there get huge payments and tax breaks. It is even a lower price and produced at 3/4 production cost. US$34.5 Billion goes to US farmers since 1995 and they dominate the market. Meanwhile farmers are collapsing and are now at survival level growing only enough for their families to eat. In one year alone from 2001-02, 13,000 farmers forestry workers and fishermen lost their livelihoods.

In support of the farmers who mounted a determined hunger strike in front of the Philippine Department of Agriculture. Last May Preda published articles and columns on the issue of "Frankenstine" foods that are being resisted by the Philippine environmentalists. GMO corn is being introduced in to the country and this could have devastating effects on the economy on the access of Philippine food products to a world market especially Europe which is adverse to GMO foods. The result of the three week hunger strike was wide publicity that brought the issue to the congress.

Ms. Mabel Magno - PREDA promotion and marketing officer together with Mariano Delizo of DELIZO leathercraft - one of the producers assisted by PREDA during the National Trade Fair 2003

To help expand local market access for the producer groups PREDA Fair Trade assisted four producer partners to participate in the NATIONAL TRADE FAIR held at SM Megamall, Madaluyong City, Metro Manila on March 12-16, 2003. A subsidy of Php 26,000.00 was given to the producers as financial assistance and part of their profit share. Among the producers assisted were Michael's Concept-producer of wood novelty items, GEFA-fashion accessories, COP-Trappist- producer coconut & bamboo kitchen utensils, DELIZO leather craft.

The Producers made beautiful attractive displays of their products and were proud to be able to participate as they gained greater exposure for their products to the general public. Such participation in trade fairs bring in new orders for them, this is to help them to be self-reliant and not depend on the export market alone. The producers got a whopping total of Php 344,615 cash sales (US$6,441.40) from on the spot retail sales and were able to book sales amounting to Php 592,155.00. (US$11,068.31).

Certified Organic dried mangos will be available from Preda in commercial quantities for the first time with one or two years. Preda agriculturists are working with the mango farmers all over central Luzon on the first phase of "going organic" training. Among the most enthusiastic are the Indigenous People (Aetas) who have always grown naturally organic products for centuries and since they farm and harvest from the forest which is the ancestral domain they are very environmentally aware. The follow-up meeting of organic mango farmers was held on March 13, 2003 at LAKAS community in Botolan, Zambales. It was attended by Aeta and farmer leaders of Zambales. Also present during the seminar was the technical staff of the Provincial Department of Agriculture (PDA). They mentioned about DAs plans, programs and support services. Visitors from Naturland in Germany have been here to visit the farmers and to guide and assist the training modules.

Ms. Birgit Wilheim of Naturland, Gemany awards a certificate to Tubag Hugatan, and Aeta Leader after finishing the seminar on Organic Internal System

There was much rejoicing when the Preda Fair Trade self-assessment team finally finished the job and submitted the results to the International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT) These were the first Self Assessment Results for the year 2002 following carefully the guidelines with the set of IFAT Fair Trade standards.

The PREDA Fair Trade staff and Executive Committee joined in this review. The positive results of the Social Review even surprised our own team members and we had a feeling of accomplishment and achievement. The assessment helped us to look at the result of years of development work for Fair trade and Producer assistance.
Producers and partners told us that we were doing a good job with the quality of communication, product development and by giving producers social development assistance particularly in the following aspects:

The self-assessment provided us with new insights and opportunities to improve our programs and services. It has inspired the fair trade team to be conscious of our work vis-à-vis the more meaningful and with greater impact in the attainment of IFAT standards.

On April 15-19, 2003, Ms. Birgit Wilhelm and Dr. Prahba Mahale of Naturland had conducted a pre-inspection visit to organic mango farms in Zambales and Nueva Ecija and the processing plant in Cebu. Naturland is an organic certifying organization based in Germany.

The pre-inspection visit was undertaken with the assistance from DWP-Germany to see the feasibility of Preda mango producers and processors to be certified organic. During the visit, Naturland inspectors gave inputs on the Internal Control System (ICS) which will help in ensuring organic certification.

Farmers together with Ms. Birgit Wilhelm and Prahba Mahale of Naturland during the Field Visit to organic mango farm

First visit was conducted last February 3-9, 2003 composed of 2 DWP staff and 4 shop owner/volunteers. DWP representatives were able to meet and interact with the handicraft producers and mango farmers thus understanding each situation. DWP representatives were able to visit the processing plant for dried mango and juices.

Second visit was done last May 14-22, 2003 by Thomas Hoyer together with the film crew. The visit focuses on filming the different works of Preda especially the effort on organic farming of mangoes. The film will be used for advocacy and promotion to generate more orders of dried mango and puree. More orders will generally help more mango farmers.

Fr. Shay together with Thomas Hoyer of DWP during the visit to the farmers

Mr. Alex Corpus Hermoso - PREDA Programme Director and the Chairperson of Philippine Fair Trade Forum opens the Philippine celebration of the World Fair Trade Day

On June 2-4, 2003, Mr. Alex Hermoso- PREDA Programme Director attended the Product Development Workshop on decorative items "ethnic" and "utility" held at Calcutta, India. It was sponsored by the Magasin du monde-OXFAM.

The seminar created an opportunity to exchange experience and build up a common working plan focusing on 3 specific aspects: (1) Partnership strategy with the Asian producer-partners of Magasin du monde-OXFAM; (2) Product Development of decorative range of products; (3) Clean clothes campaign.

The 3-day seminar was very fruitful because it impart practical and theoretical knowledge on quality improvement of decorative items. A guideline on efficient product development system was also discussed.

Learnings on the seminar will definitely help Preda in improving product development strategy so as to produce new range of quality innovative products for our partners.

As the members of the Fair Trade movement all over the world speak out in unison to promote and raise awareness about FAIR TRADE during the World Fair Trade Day celebration last May 17, 2003. PREDA Fair Trade participated the Philippine Celebration of the World Fair Trade Day held on May 16-17, 2003 at The Peninsula Manila. It was organized by the Philippine Fair Trade Forum (PFTF), a coalition of Philippine producer groups, marketing organizations, support groups and individuals advocating and practicing the principles of fair trade of which Mr. Alex Hermoso of PREDA is the current chairman.

It was a successful activity attended by the important stakeholders from the trading sector which include legislators, trade officials, embassy officials, buyers, store owners and food producers, SME leaders, NGO and civic organizations. Our mango guarana was launched during the activity.

Mr. Alex Corpus Hermoso-PREDA Programme Director and Chairperson of Philippine Fair Trade Forum (PFTF) attended the International Federation for Alternative Trade Conference held on June 22-29, 2003 at New Castle, United Kingdom. There were 275 delegates coming from 50 countries. This is the largest conference so far in terms of attendance.

The executive committee was elected during this conference and we are very proud that for the second time another Asian representative was elected to the Executive Committee in the person of Ms. Claribel David of APFTI.

On this occasion, PREDA received the IFAT certificate as a Fair Trade organization. The certificate allows us to use IFAT logo on our letterheads.

PREDA did not participate in this year's competition on best design and products but was challenged to exert more on developing quality designs and products for the next competition in 2005.

This conference was also an opportunity for the PREDA Programme Director in renewing and enhancing trading partnership with the Preda partners participating in the conference. This was done through informal talks and discussion during breaks.

After the conference, the Programme Coordinator attended several meetings and workshops as part of advocacy and product promotions.

PREDA Theater group together with the staff of DWP

Another batch of professionally-trained actors of PREDA Foundation and the youth organization known as AKBAY presented a musical play entitled " Once There was a Dream" - a musical play to raise public awareness on child abuse, child prostitution, sex tourism and child trafficking. The issue on "FAIR TRADING" is always part of this advocacy tour and DWP an Alternative Trading Organization (ATO) helped in organizing the tour in Germany.

The play toured in selected cities and towns of Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Ireland. The theater group presented 31 performances that lasted for 6 weeks from May 21-July 4, 2003. Among the participants were local and church communities, students, teachers, young people, and professionals.


Tropical Dried Fruits and Juices	Handicrafts