Category: Business Mirror

THE number of casualties following the 6.9 magnitude Offshore Northern Cebu Earthquake that struck Central Visayas on September 30 continued to rise, with 72 confirmed dead and 294 injured, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Thursday.

In its situation report, the agency said 30 of the 72 fatalities were from Bogo City, 22 from San Remigio, 12 from Madellin, five in Tabogon, two in Sogod, and one in Tabuelan.

As rescuers race against time, a magnitude 5 aftershock occurred on the eve of October 1, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

Phivolcs said as of 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2025, it has recorded a total of 2,929 aftershocks, 14 of which were strong enough to be felt.

The earthquake, which generated a few seconds of an Intensity VII strong earth-shaking event near the epicenter in Bogo City and nearby cities and towns in Cebu, was traced to an offshore local fault line. Intensity VII is categorized as ‘Destructive’ on the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) scale and ‘brutally devastating’ on Japan’s JMA scale, which is the highest level.

Other areas, as far as Luzon and Mindanao, experienced Intensity III to VI.

NDRRMC said a total of 47,221 families, or 170,959 persons, were affected in 53 barangays in the Central Visayas region.

Damage

DESTRUCTION caused by the earthquake includes damage to 87 infrastructure, 96 houses totally damaged, and 501 partially damaged.

A total of 85 cities and municipalities were affected, mostly in Central Visayas and 10 in Western Visayas.

Classes and work were suspended in affected areas in Regions 6 and 7 and Negros Island Region, the NDRRMC reported, with a total of 53 cities and towns in Region 7 having been declared under a state of calamity.

The NDRRMC said an earthquake-induced landslide occurred in Tabuelan, and Tobogon, Cebu, while a structural fire was reported in Consolacion, also in Cebu.

In Asturias, a collapsed structure was recorded. In Mandaue, Cebu, an Ammonia Leak was reported to authorities, reportedly originating from San Miguel Corporation’s facility in barangay Tipolo.

On Tuesday, President Marcos inspected the SM Cares Village in barangay Polambato, Bogo City. Built for Typhoon Yolanda survivors, the village built in 2013 with 200 free housing units was among the hardest hit by the earthquake.

A total of eight persons were killed when housing units collapsed, the NDRRMC reported.

The President also inspected the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer, which sustained heavy damage.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), and various local governments in the province have started providing relief goods to affected families.

Navy prepares

THE Navy (PN) on Thursday said it is now preparing the transport ship, BRP Dagupan City (LS-551), as part of its humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) efforts.

‘This preparatory action highlights the Navy’s high level of operational readiness and its continuing support to national disaster response operations. BRP Dagupan City is being prepared for deployment,’ the Navy Public Affairs Office chief, Capt. Benjo Negranza, said in a statement.

To further beef up its HADR efforts, Negranza said Naval Forces Central’s medical team is on standby to assist.

Davao sends rescue team

DAVAO City disaster and rescue officials sent off early Thursday a convoy of 13 trucks, personnel and urban search and rescue vehicles for rescue and relief operations in northern Cebu.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said it dispatched government trucks to Cebu to distribute 5,000 food packs, along with a team of 50 personnel including doctors and psychosocial workers, and seasoned personnel in urban search and rescue.

Among them were personnel of the Urban Search and Rescue (Usar), the Fire Brigade Unit, Emergency Medical Services at Central 911, including the K9 team.

Rudy Encabo, assistant head of CDRRMO, the convoy left at 6:00 am Thursday for a land trip across five Mindanao provinces and the island provinces in the Visayas to reach Bogo City in northern Cebu, where rescue personnel were still entangled in the search for the casualties in the rubbles.

South Cotabato has earlier sent relief goods and Zamboanga City has announced it would also send a convoy of relief and rescue personnel.

President Ferdinand Marcos said he will ask Congress to replenish the fast dwindling Quick Response Fund (QRF) of some government agencies.

During a situation briefing in Bogo City in Cebu after it was hit by a magnitude-6.9 quake earlier this week, the chief executive said the additional QRF will ensure the government will be ready for disasters this year.

He said the quake, which struck Cebu, as well as tropical cyclones Nando and Opong(international name: Bualoi) has led to government agencies to use a considerable portion of their QRFs.

Aside from Cebu, the President also visited Masbate, which also suffered heavy damage from Opong to also lead in government relief operations in the island province.

‘I will be going to Congress because after the – coming from Masbate, coming from Cebu, I will be going to the Congress, the House and the Senate, I will ask-so they can give more emergency funds,’ Marcos said in Filipino.

He said he already instructed Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman to make the necessary preparations for the fund request to Congress.

‘I spoke to Sec. Menah already yesterday and this morning and she’s making all of those arrangements,’ the President said.

He has yet to disclose how much funding DBM will request from Congress for the QRF replenishment.

Under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the government has allocated P7.73 billion for the QRF, which is included in the National Risk Reduction and Management Fund or also known as Calamity Fund.

The QRF was distributed to the following agencies: Department of Agriculture (P1 billion); Department of Education (P3 billion); Department of Health (P500 million); Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bureau of Fire Protection (P50 million); DILG-Philippine National Police (P50 million); Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense (P500 million); Department of Public Works and Highways (P1 billion); Department of Social Welfare and Development (P1.25 billion); and Department of Transportation (P75 million).

The QRF for Budgetary Support for Government Corporations was pegged at P300 million.

Last week, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the country is expected to be hit by 5 to 9 more tropical cyclones before the end of the year.

A steady pouring of rain flooded several towns in Zambales, rendering parts of the national highway impassable to light vehicles and causing some residents to evacuate, as Typhoon ‘Paolo’ (‘Matmo’) drenched Northern and Western Luzon on Friday, Oct. 3.

The Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said heavy floodings occurred in the central towns of San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, and Iba, as well as parts of Palauig and Masinloc towns up north.

PDRRMO head Rolex Estella said that as of 6:00 p.m. on Friday, a total of 128 families composed of 388 individuals have evacuated to safety because of the floods. Most of these are in Masinloc with 84 families, and Iba with 33 families having relocated to barangay halls, schools, and health centers.

Traffic build-up was also reported along the highway at Barangay Sindol in San Felipe, Barangay Binoclutan in Botolan, Barangay Mabanglit in Cabangan, and Barangays San Lorenzo and Bamban in Masinloc, where severe flooding made the roads impassable to light vehicles, Estella said.

Northern Zambales was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 on Friday, according to the 2:00 p.m. bulletin from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The Zambales provincial government ordered the day before the suspension of classes in all levels in the province on Friday, as well as the pre-emptive evacuation of residents in low-lying areas in anticipation of heavy rainfall from Typhoon Paolo, Estella said.

The Philippine Coast Guard office in Zambales likewise cancelled all marine activities in the province and urged residents and visitors to stay away from beach areas after PAGASA warned of moderate to high risks of storm surge in coastal communities.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) kicks off its golden 50th season this weekend, headlined by a marquee matchup between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. The clash follows Saturday’s fellowship night at the Meralco Theater.

Ginebra, with two-time Grand Slam coach Tim Cone calling the shots, will face off against his former player LA Tenorio, who is now Magnolia head coach.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m., following the opening ceremonies and the annual Leo Awards at Novotel Manila, where Season 49’s Most Valuable Players will be honored.

Cone made minimal adjustments to his roster, adding 6-foot-7 Norbert Torres via free agency from Meralco and signing 6-foot-3 rookie Sonny Estil, the 11th overall pick.

The Gin Kings core of Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos, Japeth Aguilar, Stephen Holt, Troy Rosario, Jeremiah Gray and Maverick Ahanmisi aim to end a two-year championship drought.

Tenorio, who played under Cone at Alaska and Ginebra, shared his excitement about the matchup, saying it’s a privilege to coach against one of the country’s finest basketball minds-even as his team focuses on execution.

‘We will rely more on our defense. I believe our players have what it takes to win the game,’ Tenorio told BusinessMirror on Friday.

‘It is really an honor to play or coach against Tim Cone, but I do not worry about it. We just must treat this as a normal game for us. We must get better each game.’

Magnolia’s new additions include Javi Gomez de Liaño, Rafi Verano, Paolo Taha, and Gab Gomez.

Rookie 6-foot-5 center Yutien Andrada will join the team after fulfilling his commitments with the San Beda Red Lions in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

This season also marks the debut of Jason Webb as Magnolia’s new team governor.

The festivities begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the green gate of Araneta Coliseum, where players will engage with fans for four hours.

The celebration then moves to the Meralco Theater in the evening, honoring the league’s past and present members from the press, teams and staff.

THERE is an interesting take on European history happening onscreen and this is the story of Empress Elisabeth of Austria and her love affair and adventure with Franz Joseph of Austria. Bearing the title The Empress (its German title is Die Kaiserin), the tale is a push-and-pull between the grand and the intimate, with the depiction of the empire startling us with how miniscule sometimes the historical antecedents involving these grand personalities that once ruled the narratives of power and conquest in that part of the world.

The tale begins with a very young girl, an impulsive Sisi-the Bavarian Duchess, Elisabeth von Wittellsbach. She is pictured as tomboyish, a lover of horses, in contrast to her sister, the Duchess Helene, who is not only being groomed as the next Empress but is much willing to go through the challenge of being introduced to Franz Joseph of Austria.

As fate would have it, the young Sisi who much prefers to be addressed as Elisabeth sees Franz and is smitten and falls in love with the young man. Franz at this point has taken over the empire.

Ludovika travels with Helene and Elisabeth to Austria for the engagement. That day also happens to be the birthday of Franz and it is during this moment that he will announce his engagement with Helene. Without the knowledge of both their mother and Helene, Sisi and Franz have, more or less, found themselves liking each other. Indeed, during the birthday celebration, Franz announces who he will marry and it is Elisabeth, not Helene.

The wonder of it all is that there is no remorse on the part of Elisabeth; for the family of Elisabeth also, the complication did not last long-it just felt natural that, if the other daughter is not marrying the emperor, then the other one, if she is willing, can always be the empress.

What follows then is how Elisabeth tries to negotiate the court-its affairs and complexities. Along the way, characters like Johann Strauss, the great composer, make an appearance and in the soiree-which is more like a stag party before the wedding-even the mighty Franz Liszt regales the bacchanalia with his piano-playing.

I still have to complete viewing this spectacle of a drama. Handsomely photographed, The Empress is the kind of film that suffuses the screen with the splendor that we associate with desire and conquest. Emotions seem to run high and hot among these characters. Outside of Franz, the emperor, there is his brother Maximilian who, while wholly trusted by the brother, appears to teeter on the edge always of infidelity.

Empress Elisabeth herself is both a tough and a delicate character. Around her, there is the mother-in-law and other ladies-in-waiting who are, I am afraid, merely waiting for their chance to trick the young empress or, at least, expose her own frailties.

At certain points of the film, one gets this notion that only Elisabeth and Franz are the real human characters in this caper; the rest are cardboard characters straight out of illustrated comic magazines.

The Empress is created by Katharina Eyssen; it is written by Katharina Eyssen, Bernd Lange, and Janna Maria Nandzik. It is directed by Katrin Gebbe and Florian Cossen.

Devrin Lingnau, a German actress of Turkish descent, plays Elisabeth; Philip Froissant is Franz of Austria.

Which brings me to another film-Wayward. It is a strange story about young people, which while on the surface it feels like it is reaching out to them, in the end it manages to alienate the very depiction of the said population.

The film centers on two good friends-one a dyslexic and another, for lack of a newer term, a juvenile delinquent. Abbie belongs to a rather comfortable family but a father who demands a lot from her; Leila finds comfort in being with Abbie. In Abbie’s home, Leila is sent away by her friend’s father who does not hide his discomfort about this friend’s wayward habits.

Many things are happening in this film. For one, the film opens with a runaway, a boy who escapes from what would turn out to be the very institution that Abbie’s parents would later bring their daughter to. As this daring escape was taking place, a couple was moving into a countryside home. As this couple is gradually introduced to us, we realized that the ‘man’ of the house is a transgender – a transman. It looks like they are moving back to the hometown of the wife-we describe her as, pardon the term, a real woman-to lead a ‘normal’ life, to start anew. Later in the scene, Leila herself would bring up the modifier ‘queer’ to address Alex, the husband of the young, pregnant woman.

In the town, Alex notices an odd behaviour in many of the residents of the town. One day, upon returning from running an errand for his wife, Alex finds Evelyn, the head of the Tall Pines Academy, an institution that keeps troubled young men and women, in their home.

Leila would soon find Abbie in Tall Pines and with the help of Alex, they would try to uncover the dark secrets of the town.

Mae Martin who plays the transgender policeman, created the series, which made Wayward a gripping if not messy mystery thriller about abandonment, isolation and identity.

Toni Colette’s performance in the film is a tour de force, even if in most part she was stealing the scene from what would have been quiet depictions of events. Her character has been described as committed. The two young actors are a find: Alyvia Alyn Lind as Leila and Sydney Topfliffe as Abbie.

An initial ?2 billion pesos estimated worth in infrastructure damages was reported by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu province on Tuesday evening, Sept. 30, 2025.

In a press conference, DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon said the figures could still go up as their teams continue to conduct more assessments.

Dizon told reporters that right now their priority are clearing the roads and providing access for unhampered delivery of relief goods to the affected areas.

‘We were sent here by the President [Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.] quickly respond immediately to the needs of Bogo and the other LGUs,’ he added.

Apart from the repairs of roads and bridges, the DPWH secretary said they will send a team to assess the structural integrity of the Bogo City Provincial Hospital.

From their visit, he reported that the hospital incurred major damages in its operating room, emergency room, and the delivery room. With this, he instructed DPWH Cebu to direct all its resources to conduct repairs starting today, Oct. 2, 2025.

TOURISM

Apart from the infrastructure, Department of Tourism (DOT) Sec. Christina Frasco reported that 80 tourism establishments incurred damages and severely affected 711 tourism workers.

She asked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide assistance for them.

DOT has also facilitated for the safe return of 14 local tourists who got stranded and assisted one foreign tourist to stay in a safe place in Bogo City as the latter opted not to leave there.

‘We want to assure the local governments that the national government is here to help out. Nakighiusa mi sa mga kaigsonan sa Sugbo niining nahitabo (We are in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Cebu after what happened),’ Frasco assured.

The DOT will also send a team to conduct assessments to the churches that were damaged in the earthquake.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. is set to visit the quake hit areas in Cebu today, Sec. Dizon confirmed during the press conference.

Voting 15 affirmative with 3 negative and 2 abstentions, the Senate on Wednesday adopted a resolution asking the International Criminal Court (ICC) to consider allowing former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to be placed on house arrest for humanitarian reasons.

Senate Resolution 144, initiated by Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano – Duterte’s vice presidential running mate in the 2016 elections – came days after Duterte’s daughter Sara claimed that he was ‘found unconscious’ in his detention cell in The Hague.

All nine minority senators voted in the affirmative for SR 144.

The negative votes were cast by Senators Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Raffy Tulfo abstained.

Explaining his vote, Sotto said, ‘I am faced with two difficult’ choices that both align with his principles: affording the former president a comfortable surroundings, while taking into consideration the plight of families seeking justice for crimes against humanity – the charge in the ICC against Duterte, for his dirty war on drugs that reportedly killed thousands without due process.

While he described himself as ‘supportive’ of any efforts to afford the former president – whom his family and lawyer claims suffers a host of medical issues, Sotto worried that ‘my choice’ in the vote on SR 144 might even further divide the nation. Hence, his abstention.

Explaining her negative vote, Hontiveros said that while the senators push for an interim release has been couched in humanitarian terms, its flipside is that it further signals the selective justice system in the country, where other suspects who have not been adjudged guilty are detained for years, despite health issues.

Hontiveros added that the resolution was premature because it was not based on facts, as there is no showing that the ICC has been remiss in caring for Duterte in detention.

Despite Vice President Sara Duterte’s claims about the ‘found unconscious’ and related circumstances, other video reports had other family members who visited the former President as saying ‘he is well, even jolly,’ at kaya pa ngang makipag-usap tungkol sa maraming topic kasama ang politika, flood control at love life [and can even discuss many topics including politics, flood control and love life],’ Hontiveros added..

Besides Alan Cayetano, those who voted for the resolution are Senators Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, Christopher Lawrence Go, Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Rodante Marcoleta, Erwin Tulfo, Joel Villanueva, Loren Legarda, Mark Villar, Panfilo Lacson and Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Rep. Nathaniel Oducado of 1Tahanan Party-list has filed a proposed measure which aims to create Agricultural Pension Program for the country’s farmers and fishermen.

Oducado said that House Bill No. 5009, also known as Pensyonadong Magsasaka at Mangingisda, seeks to create an agricultural pension program to provide long-overdue social security and pension benefits to the country’s farmers and fisherfolk.

The lawmaker pointed out that despite being the backbone of national food security, farmers and fishermen remain among the poorest in the country.

He said that in 2023, poverty incidence was recorded at 27.0 percent among farmers and 27.4 percent among fisherfolk, placing them among the top three poorest sectors in the country. Unlike workers in the formal sector, they are largely excluded from the national social security system, leaving them vulnerable in times of old age, illness, or disability.

Oducado pointed out that the proposed measure will establish a comprehensive pension and social security program, while also offering an educational scholarship to the legitimate and legally adopted sons and daughters of registered farmer and fisherfolk beneficiaries – with reasonable allowances for supplies and other academic needs.

‘This aims not only to secure their present welfare but also to break the cycle of poverty by ensuring access to quality education,’ he said.

‘Farmers and fisherfolk play an essential role in our survival and national development. It is only right that the State ensures a decent quality of life, reliable retirement support, and opportunities for their children’s future,’ Oducado also said.

The bill highlights real-life stories like that of Mang Romeo, a farmer from Nueva Ecija who, at 70, continues to toil in the fields, but despite decades of service receives no retirement support from the government.

‘His experience mirrors the plight of millions who, without social protection, are forced to work well into their senior years,’ Oducado stressed.

‘With this program, we want to give dignity, security, and hope to those who feed our nation,’ Oducado added.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may see faster inflation in September, but local economists believe this is not enough reason to exit its easing cycle when the Monetary Board meets next week.

On Wednesday, the BSP said it projects that September 2025 inflation will settle within the range of 1.5 to 2.3 percent. If the high end of the outlook is reached, this will be the second fastest inflation on record this year.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will release the latest inflation print on October 7, ahead of the October 9 policy meeting at the BSP.

‘Upward price pressures for the month are likely to arise from higher prices of rice and fish. Elevated domestic fuel costs likewise contribute to upside price pressures for the month,’ the BSP said.

‘These pressures could be partially offset by the decline in vegetables and meat prices along with lower electricity rates,’ it added.

Ateneo de Manila University economist Luis F. Dumlao told BusinessMirror on Wednesday that the inflation projection was still within the 2 to 4 percent inflation target of the BSP.

This means, Dumlao said, the BSP has ‘space to be dovish.’ He said any reduction in policy rates will help support the country’s GDP growth.

Dumlao said the country’s GDP growth is growing slower than its natural growth of around 6.2 percent. Reducing policy rates can help boost the country’s economic performance this year.

‘The only way they will raise interest is if they see inflationary pressure over 4 percent the next 6 months,’ Dumlao told this newspaper.

Should the BSP decide to reduce rates next week, Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at professional services firm Reyes Tacandong and Co., said the impact on the economy could last for a year.

Ravelas said the Monetary Board is expected to maintain policy rates in December, unless there is another reduction in United States Federal Reserve rate cuts.

He also does not see any off cycles and increases in policy rates any time soon. However, former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante B. Canlas said that if there is a surge in inflation in September due to the recent typhoons, there is a chance for an off cycle.

‘The MB [Monetary Board] may still stick to its announced plan to cut interest rates. The GDP growth is at risk; ADB [Asian Development Bank], for example, downsized already its GDP growth forecast for the Philippines,’ Canlas said.

Meanwhile, HSBC Asean economist Aris Dacanay likened the BSP’s careful calibration of monetary policy to how a driver parks his or her car.

In Filipino parlance, this is atras-abante which literally means backward-forward, actions needed to move a car to fit parking spaces with exact dimensions.

‘As the BSP nears the end of its easing cycle, finding the right monetary stance has become an exercise of making small adjustments. Like parking one’s car, calibrations to monetary policy will likely be made in increments based on marginal movements of the data on hand,’ Dacanay said. ‘We think the BSP’s monetary policy decision on the 9th of October will be a tough call between a hawkish cut or a dovish hold.’

Given this, Dacanay said he is penciling in a rate hold next week, which means BSP will keep its policy rate at 5 percent. At this point, he said, this data is limited on whether the economy is slowing.

He noted that consumer vehicle purchases are falling and government capital spending is tightening while goods exports are holding. Dacanay said domestic demand has also been firm with the imports of capital and consumer goods both steady.

Further, Dacanay said inflation risks should be considered, given that core inflation increased 2.7 percent and headline inflation at 1.5 percent. He said inflationary pressures are expected to persist due to typhoons Nando and Bualoi.

THE country’s earnings from coconut-based products surged by 44 percent to over $2.2 billion as of August, as supply constraints pushed prices.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the value of coconut-based exports leaped to $2.26 billion as of the end of August from $1.57 billion a year ago.

Shipments of coconut oil led the product group among other products, as it jumped by 43 percent to $1.83 billion in the reference period from $1.28 billion last year.

Industry sources said coconut oil prices have been on an upswing, propelled by tight supply from major producing countries due to adverse weather effects and the spike in quotations for other vegetable oils.

Historical figures from the World Bank showed that the average price of coconut oil skyrocketed to a record $2,771 per metric ton (MT) in July.

If this trend continues, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said the country’s export receipts from coconut oil alone will hit a new record high in 2025.

Such an outlook stemmed from growing demand and surging prices of the tropical oil in the world market. Last year, coconut oil earnings grew to $2.22 billion.

The World Bank expects coconut oil products to average at $1,800 per MT this year, higher than the average price of $1,519 per MT posted in 2024.

Meanwhile, the country’s outbound shipments of desiccated coconut skyrocketed by 75 percent to $323.52 million in January to August from $185.15 million in the previous year.

Export revenues of other coconut products also grew by 45 percent to $75.82 million from $52.49 million.

However, earnings from the outbound shipments of copra meal or cake slumped by 45 percent to $26.49 million from $48.08 million.

The United Coconut Association of the Philippines (Ucap) recently said export receipts from coconut-based products could hit as high as $3 billion in 2026 on the back of an expected rebound in output.

Meanwhile, PSA data also indicated that the country’s exports of fruits and vegetables during the reference period jumped by 21.3 percent to $1.9 billion from $1.55 billion.

Outbound shipments of bananas led the category, rising by 29 percent to $1.05 billion from last year’s $818.37 million, based on PSA data.

Exports of pineapple juice grew by 32.5 percent to $92.1 million from $69.5 million a year ago. However, shipments of canned pineapple dropped by 0.8 percent to $141.88 million from $143.06 million.