PAGASA Pres. Steve Cua bid s farewell to 2010 by guesting on GMA-7’s early morning program "Unang Hirit" to give a year-end assessment of the demand, supply and prices of prime commodities and basic necessities and his fearless forecast for 2011.

PAGASA Pres. STC was a Prese ntor at the 2010 Retailer of the Year and Shopping Center of the Year Awards held at the Crowne Plaza and organized by the Phil. Retailers Assn. With him is the representative of  Robinson’s Dept. Store. Rustan’s Bievenido Tantoco, Sr. was awarded the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award for Luxury Retailing .

PAGASA had a blast at the 4Q General Meeting which also served as the X’mas Get-together at the newly-developed Eton Centris Complex. The Meeting shows a  serious Myke Teodoro of Velamart>newest member of PAGASA operating in the province of Cavite (wearing black). The evening proceeded with the Pinoy Henyo game played by some members and epitomized by Chief Reindeer PAGASA Dir. Fred Gravador

The Department of Trade and Industry has sent a letter requesting PAGASA members to help educate the public on safety with regards to christmas lights. The DTI advises the public to purchase only those christmas lights that bear the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark. Among the letters are the warnings and notices as well as lists of companies that have received the ICC marks and a list products that are required to have the the Phiippine Standards (PS) license.

PAGASA Pres. Steven T. Cua was one of the guests at the Coca-Cola X’mas Cocktails held at the Makati Shangrila. This year’s party was honored by the presence of Coke’s Global CEO Mr. Irial Finan.  Banking them is Regional Sales Mgr. for GMA-South Morfar Morelos (left) and –North Nicollo Caluag.

  The 15 th Congress of the Phil. House of Representatives filed 13 bills regulating the use/phase-out  of plastic bags. Said meeting was represented by STC and Dir. Fred Gravador in behalf of PAGASA. The Position Paper of PAGASA was submitted to the Secretariat of the House Committee on Ecology for study. The Technical Working Committee said It would consolidate the 13 bills filed by different congressmen for the next meeting. Previous Meeting was held in August last year during the last Congress.

We commend the various House Bills introduced regulating the production, importation, sale, use and recycling of plastic bags in all establishments in the country. It illustrates Congress’ pro-active concern for our environment with regard to the ill-effects of the improper disposal of plastic bags as used by commercial establishments.

P&G Phils. celebrated its Diamond Anniversary for doing 75 years of business in the Philippines (its 3 rd subsidiary) at the Harbor Tent of Hotel Sofitel with Pres. Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III as its Keynote Speaker. PAGASA was represented by STC & Treasurer William Villanueva.

At the 4th Public Hearing on Recycling of Plastic Bags from Commercial Establishments at the House of Congress, the Technical Committee on Environment decided to adopt the Position Paper of PAGASA on its proposal to get the citizenry involved in protecting the environment by having retail outlets act as collecting agents of used plastic bags for recyclers.

Quezon City, November 3, 2010 – The Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association (PAGASA) launched their Reusable Bag Day with a short program featuring the reusable bag for distribution in all the more than one hundred members of the association.  This is in response to the PagbaBAG KO, Pagbabago!: A Reusable Bag Campaign which was launched last September 23, 2010 by Earth Day Network Philippines, Inc. (EDNPI) together with the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR), National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), Philippine Retailers Association (PRA). The campaign aims to develop the habit of using reusable bags instead of plastic bags.   The Launch was held at Welcome Supermart, Quezon City and present we re PAGASA President Steven Cua, former DENR Secretary and Earth Day Network Philippines Inc. Chairperson, Elisea “Bebet” Gozun, EDNPI Trustee, Ms. Binggirl Clemente and EDNPI Executive Director, as well as PAGASA Directors and Members, Jua

Roy Chua/PAGA SA Corp.Sec. is guest at the DZMM Teleradyo Program"Konsumer,atbp."10/23/10. (L-R) Dept. of Agri. Asst.Sec. Salvador Salacup, Dept of Trade & Industry Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya, PASI Sec.-Gen. Atty. Federico Ples and Rodolfo Dalangin, Sec.Gen./National Market Vendors Cooperatives (NAMVESCO). Topic was "Bantay Suplay at Presyo sa Panahon ng Kalamidad" or "Supply and Prices of Prime Commodities during Times of Calamity." This episode came after the country's northern portion was damaged by Typhoon Juan (code name: Megi). Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 August 2011 )

P AGASA is invited to the Multi-Sector Pre-Forum Consultation/Workshop on Ethics & Accountability in Government organized by the Civil Srvice Comm. Invited sectors for the day were the Military, Religious, Media, Foreign Embassies and the Business/Professional Organizations. Each sector gave their most alarming concerns regarding integrity of government employees.

PAGASA’s STC is sw orn in (in coat) as the Chairman of the Committee for Agri-Supermarkets of the Phil. Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. right after the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Agrilink, Foodlink, Aqualink Show at the  World Trade Center. PAGASA has been a co-organizer for the last 13 Shows held annually. Inside, he is consulted by a farmer from Dapitan,Zamboanga Del Norte on his new harvest of Thai Langkong.

STC calls a Special Meeting for Members to agree on a Reusable Bag meant for PAGASA stores. Those who attended were Dir. Fred Gravador/Simplicity Ministop, Jourlan Baranda/ New Life Supermart, Jun Dumlao/Liana’s, Jose Sy/SSP Gen.Merch., Treas. William Villanueva/Purity and Bel Castor/Nesabel. The size, material, design and color of the bags were decided on to have the manufacturer produce this in time for November 2010 .

PAGASA Members were consulted on how t o best service their pork needs coming from Passi City, Iloilo. At right are D.A.’s Leticia Parcon/Reg. Livestock Mktg. Coordinator for Reg. 6 and Elmer Esplana/Nat. Sec. Coordinator of the Bureau of Animal Industry .

PAGASA is interviewed by Dr. Ramon L. Clarete, Ph. D. of U.P. School of Eco. & a Food Trade Consultant to the ADB and Amy H. Esteban , Consultant/Reg. & Sustainable Dev’t Dept. of the ADB for the ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework in trying to avoid another regional rice crisis like the one in 2008.

PAGASA holds its 3Q Ge nMeet at the new Thaipan Thai Resto along Scout Dr. Lascano where the organization digested various industry issues like product recalls, reusable bags, hazardous waste management , seamless integrated retail solutions, stiff competition, upcoming trade shows and the like.

STC represents the supermarket sector in signing a Memo of Understanding with Dept. of Natural Resources & Environment Sec. Ramon Paje and former DENR  Sec. Elisea  “Bebet” Gozun who now chairs the NGO>Earth Day Network Phils. The MOU involves supermarkets in designating every Wednesday as a Reuseable Bag Day.

PAGASA’s STC is man of the hour at the Live Interview portion of RPN-Channel 9’s early news edition of Newswatch.  Topic is supply and demand situation a hundred days away from Christmas Day . News & Current Affairs Manager Marigold Haber- Dunca tackles the topics for the day.

Guests at the 9/18/10 episode of the Teleradyo program “Konsumer, atbp.” on Lack of Loose Change for Retailers are (L-R) Bangko Sentral’s Head of Corp. Affairs>Fe de la Cruz, host DTI Usec. Zenaida Maglaya, PAGASA’s STC, SM’s AVP for Dept. Store Oper .> Anna Maria T.  and PASI’s Atty . Federico Ples.

PAGASA’s STC (3^rd  R) is invited as guest to the 90-minute DZMM Radio Program “Konsumer, atbp.” hosted by DTI Undersecretary Zeny Maglaya (L) and Alvin Elchico (R) with Sec. Gen. of PASI , Atty. Federico Ples (in maroon) and that of NAMVESCO>National Market Vendors Coop, Mr. Rodolfo Dalangin (2^nd R). Topic was the Supply/Demand/Prices of Basic Necessities.PAGASA’s STC is invited as guest to the 90-minute DZMM Radio Program

PAGASA attended the Seminar Workshop organized by the Dept. of Energy on its continuous Energy Efficiency Project focusing on the Transport, Storage and Disposal of hazardous chemical>mercury found in popular compact   fluorescent lamps. The whole morning delved on DoE’s approach to the education & handling of used light bulbs , the legal and inter-agency involvements in dealing with this problem and an open forum to keep the bright ideas flowing in curbing exposure of the environment to mercury. Headache centered on the efficient collection of used light bulbs for recycling or proper disposal. In the Phils., 70-80% of these bulbs are bought from small hardwares and neighborhood stores.

The Dept. of Trade & Industry calls a 2nd Meeting with the Dept. of Agriculture on 8/26/10 in trying to set a Suggested Retail Price (SRP) for white refined sugar as a guide for retailers to sell to the market. Sugar Millers and Distributors were called on to elaborate their supply situation and all stakeholders were encouraged to tow the line in providing affordable sugar to consumers. PAGASA Corp. Sec. Roy Chua (2nd, right)attended both meetings as he listens intently to Bureau of Trade Regulation & Consumer Protection Dir. Jesus Dimagiba speaks his piece.

PAGASA Pres. Steven T. Cua held an introductory meeting with Earthday Network Phils.’ voltaire Alferez/Exec. Dir. to discuss how to push the advocacy of minimizing the use of plastic bags by bringing one’s green bag/ reusable bags for shopping.

PAGASA held its quarterly Board Meeting at Nomnomnom Restaurant . (Clockwise) Corp. Sec. Roy Chua/ Daily, Liansel Sy/Liana’s, Robert Go/Prince Warehouse, Bobby Ang/Topline, Fred Gravador/Simplicity, Treas. William Villanueva/Purity, Johnny Lim/680, Pres. STC/Welcome, Patrick Ong/PARCO and  VP Karl Tan/SuperBudgetlane.

PAGASA joined PASI in engaging Cigarette Manufacturers with issues related to R.A. No. 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. Certain clauses in the R.A. seem to be open to misinterpretation in the event of execution of this Law.

PAGASA attends a PRA session set up with the Bureau of Internal Revenue regarding tax treatment of VAT-exemption on discounts of purchases made by Senior Citizens at various retail outlets. Atty . Elenita B. Quimosing, CPA/ Chief of Staff of the Office of the Dep. Commissioner for Operations Group clarified ambiguities and loose ends at the Session.

Officers/Members at the Supermarket Conference in Davao’s Marco Polo Hotel on 22-23 July 2010. (L-R) Hi-top’s Joey Go, Eunilaine’s Manny Enciso, 7-11’s Michael Chuaunsu, Rey/Letty Vergara of Vercon’s, NCCC’s Jayvee Lim, Conf. Chairman Renee Guevarra of Mightee Mart, STC, Letty Badilla of Royal Family Superstore and Patrick Ong & Team Parco (with sister Genevieve & Ciara Santos at the back). It was a jam-packed Conference good both in form and substance.

PAGASA Pres. Steven T. Cua was invited to the 4^th Cebu Retailers  Conference as a panelist on the session for Green Retailing. At Conf. Photo-op (L-R) STC, Melanie Ng/PRA Cebu Chapter-Pres., Samie Lim/PRA Chairman Emeritus, Jay Aldeguer/PRA Cebu founding Pres., Robert Go/PAGASA Board Member & active PRA Cebu Member. At the Green Session (L-R) Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival, STC, Moderator Bing Sibal-Limjoco/ PRA vice-chair, Echostore’s Chit Juan , Ayala Mall’s Bong Dy and SM’s Sherry Tuvilla.

PAGASA was the representative for the supermarket sector for the  (Mla. Food & Beverage Expo) held at the Worl Trade Center  from 16-20 June 2010. PAGASA Dir. Patrick Ong and Ciara Santos of Parco Supermart & Dept. Store visited on the third day while Metro Supermart’s Rosalyn Wong points at the picture of her own store at the exhibit. PAGASA Dir. Fred Gravador and wife>Simple Worl Trade Center

The Dept. of Trade & Industry ( DTI ), in coordination with DepED,launched  Consumer Welfare Day where the two vowed to join forces when it comes to consumer welfare. On the widescreen, Education Sec. Mona Valisno informs the crowd regarding the need to educate elementary students on the rights of the consumer.  Group pic shows (L-R) Atty. Paul Santos >Corp. Sec. of the PRA ; STC ; Trade & Industry Sec. Jesli Lapus and PRA ’s Exec. Dir. Evelyn Balmeo-Salire.

In preparation for the 2010 National Retailers Conference to be held at the SMX, the Organizing Committee which includes PAGASA’s STC (foreground) discusses incentives on how to attract more participants and promote the event to existing as well as potential retailers. In violet is Bing Sibal-Limjoco, one of PRA ’s prime movers . To her left (on pic)   is Eunice Gonzalez of the Robinson’s Group who heads Promo/Publicity Comm.

PAGASA has been invited to most activities of APFTI (Advocate of Phil. Fair Trade Inc.)> an advocacy group pushing for the global movement on Fair Trade in the Phils. To celebrate this year’s World Fair Trade Day, the group organized a Fashion Show at the al fresco area of Eastwood Mall showcasing the latest designs using Piña cloth. It was a world-class event with live orchestra and an exhibit highlighting products made espousing fair trade practices.

PAGASA holds its 2 nd quarterly Board Meet for 2010 at Henry’s Place>The Good Earth at the newly- developed Burgos Circle near The Fort and within Global City . Serving the Board for 2010-2011 are (L-R) Fred Gravador, Patrick Ong, Bobby Ang, Roy Chua-Corp. Sec., William Villanueva-Treas., Steve Cua-Pres. and Karl Marxist Tan-VP. Missing that evening were Liansel Sy and Robert Go of Prince Warehouse Club > Cebu .

PAGASA participated at the whole-day National Public Hearing on the Draft IRR for “An Act Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Senior Citizens ” held at the auditorium of the Main Office of the Dept. of Social Welfare & Development at Batasan, QC. PAGASA joined discussions during the group workshops in the best interest of Senior Citizens given the proper safeguards to avoid abuse in the implementation of granting privileges to this sector of society

PAGASA was invited to a Forum organized by the Asian Development Bank ( ADB ), Phil. Business for Social Progress, Nestle Phils . and the Asian Institute of Management to discuss CSV>Creating Shared Value on Nutrition/Water/Rural Development. Senior Fellow at Harvard Mark Kramer spoke on Shared Value and ADB Water & Infrastructure Senior Advisor Arjun Thapan delved on the shrinking supply of water. Rural Development was amply emphasized by Gawad Kalinga ’s multi-awarded Antonio Meloto

PAGASA Pres. STC stops by at Hewlett-Packard/iRipple e-Bus. Intl.’s Booth at the 4^th Retail Solutions World Asia held at Singapore’s Suntec Exhibition Centre. With him are exhibitors Bernard Chua of HP and (L-R) Julie Cruz, Julie Keng and Meanne Unson of iRipple. The Filipino software company offered their Barter System (Supermarket Edition) to international visitors.

PAGASA learns from Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) 2010 held at the 9 halls of Singapore EXPO . Pavilions representing all the continents save Antarctica exhibited interesting new products and services including those at the Philippine Pavilion.

PAGASA Pres. STC (center) performs the job of panelist in approving the application of Penshoppe as Certified Establishment (Corporate Level) Excelling in Retail Service at the offices of the Department of Trade & Industry . Chairman of the Committee is Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection Director Atty. Dimagiba (2nd R).

BusinessWorld held its 6th Entrepreneurs Forum at the Kachina Room of the Century Park Hotel in Manila . PAGASA’s Steve Cua was invited to illuminate on “Building a Business with High Bargaining Power.” The event is hosted by BizWorld once a year to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship in the economy.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas hosted a meeting with all stakeholders regarding the balanced circulation of coins in the country. Participants were bankers, retailers, the Catholic church, jeepney operators, toll/expressway operators, gasoline station dealers, vendo machine operators and others who all have to do with the excess/lack of coins in certain sectors of the economy. STC , Bobby Ang and son>Ivan represented PAGASA at the BSP HQ in Manila. The last round of talks on the same topic was held some 4 years ago.