On the morning of 12 Dec. 2013, the MMDA calls an Emergency Meeting with stakeholders regarding the implementation of the proposed Daytime Truck Ban in Metro Manila.  Said program is suppose to be implemented the following day but met opposition from the Supply Chain Management Assn. of the Phils. (SCMAP) and other Transport Associations for truckers, haulers, container van truckers, port operators, etc. PAGASA’s Steve Cua airs the expected non-delivery of critical stocks to  supermarkets if trucks were to be banned during the period 13-20 December from 6:00am to 10:00pm.   PAGASA also sent to the MMDA on the same day its Position Paper regarding this  move to ease the traffic situation in the metropolis during the busy Yuletide Season.

  On 4 December 2013, the 16 th Congress of the Lower House calls for the 2 nd Public Hearing on Plastic Bags by the Committee on Ecology chaired by Cong. Amado Bagatsing.  At this well-attended hearing where a lot of the Committee Members were present, a lot of talk centered on incinerators and little time was left to discuss about plastic bags on whether to ban or regulate these.

Taiwan intends to improve trade with the Philippines and launches the Taiwan Trade Center on the eve of 4 December 2013 at the Makati Shangri La where the different Industry Associations like PCCI, PAGASA, etc. were invited and represented.  At the event were DTI Usec. Ponciano C. Manalo, CEO Peter W. J. Huang of the Taiwan Trade Center, PCCI Chairman Alfredo Yao, PCCI Pres. Miguel Varela as well as other distinguished guests.

Just one day after the Emergency Meeting to ascertain supplies of food and basic necessities in affected areas, DTI Sec. Domingo calls a National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) Meeting on the afternoon of 11/12/13. Meeting is to implement a price freeze on all goods and commodities nationwide in view of affected supplies in damaged areas. In anticipation of increased demand for relief goods from neighboring Cebu and Manila which may cause prices to balloon nationwide, the President has declared a National State of Calamity which triggers a price freeze. Prices may go down but may not go up for basic necessities (based on their average for the last three months as monitored by DTI’s BTRCP) until the President lifts said State of Calamity. Price freeze will be implemented by region if applicable and by province if necessary effective immediately.

Dept. of Trade & Industry Sec. Gregory Domingo calls an Emergency Meeting upon the instruction of the President in the morning of 11 Nov. 2013. This is to assess the supply of basic necessities in the provinces/areas damaged by Typhoon Yolanda (International Name Typhoon Haiyan) and the state of retail outlets in the aftermath of looting after the typhoon unleashed its fury last Friday> 11/8/13. No power, fuel, water or assess to ports and roads the main problem in getting aid/relief goods to affected areas. Military to be called in to address issues on disorder.

Director-Elect Jon Mykel “Mike” Teodoro/Velamart in Rosario and Naic, Cavite (white shirt/sporting watch with black strap) represented PAGASA at the DTI Meeting held on the afternoon of 23 Oct. 2013 to include Bottled Water on the list of Basic Necessities it being that water is essential especially during times of calamity and emergency.  As such, rules on said proposal were drawn up at said Meeting attended by  Pepsi (Phils.), Asia Brewery, Hidden Springs and other major bottled water suppliers. A similar Meeting with Instant Noodle Manufacturers took place at the same office on the same day in the morning with Director-Elect Desmond Tan/Daily Supermarket taking the cudgels for PAGASA.

The 17 th Congress Committee on Ecology under Rep. Bagatsing hears the Bills on Plastic Bags for the first time on the afternoon of 10/23/13. Stakeholders had to reorient the new Congress on past developments.  President Steve Cua was there to reiterate PAGASA’s position on the regulation of plastic bags by volunteering PAGASA Member Stores to act as agents of Collection for used plastic bags so that  recyclers may retrieve these for the purpose of recycling; thereby, limiting improper disposal of used plastic bags. This also provides owners of plastic manufacturers enough time to shift to recycling, the manufacture of  Reusable Bags or to some other industry and cushion the impact of job dislocation created by the decrease in demand for plastic bags. PAGASA believes that Reusable Bags (versus Disposable Bags) is the lasting solution to the ecological problem created by the improper disposal of disposable plastic bags.

SIAL, French Food Show Organizer (one of the biggest in the world)has decided to partner with Worldbex Services International to hold their South East Asian Food Show in the Philippines. SIAL has been handling huge Food Shows in France (Europe), Brazil (South America), Canada (North America), Dubai (Middle East) and Shanghai, China (Asia). As a show of confidence in the Philippine economy, they have chosen this country to showcase the best food products of South East Asia at the World Trade Center starting 2014. To be held in conjunction  with MAFBEX next year, the two entities launched their partnership at the Manila Peninsula on 23 Oct. 2013 and invited the Diplomatic Corp and Industry Partners such as PAGASA.

  PAGASA was invited to attend a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the Revenue Admin. Reform Project (RARP), a study of the Millennium Challenge Account-Phils. (a U.S. -funded project) to improve effectiveness of tax administration and indirectly, to enable government to raise additional revenues to support the country’s development projects and effort to fight poverty.  This was held on 17 Sept. 2013 and handled by the Social Weather Station as commissioned by the BIR at the   Philippine Social Services Center of the University of the Philippines.

PAGASA was invited to the Opening Ceremony and Trade Exhibit organized by Thailand’s Department of International Trade Program at the SM Aura’s SMX.  Officially opening the exhibit is H.E. Prasas Prasasvinitchai/Ambassador of Thailand to the Philippines (in green), Mrs. Srirat Rastapana/Dir. Gen. of DITP, Ministry of Commerce, Royal Thai Gov’t. and Usec. Ponciano C. Manalo, Jr./Trade & Investment Promotions Governor of the BOI (in white).

One of the Keynote Speakers at NRCE 2013 was A.S. Watson Group (HK)’s  former Chairman Mr. Ian Wade with over 50 years of retail wisdom behind him. He shared the optimism of a growing retail industry in the Philippines as he sits on the Board of a good number of Asian companies. The delegation of PAGASA takes a group pic. There will be no NRCE next year as the PRA prepares for the Asian edition called the Asia- Pacific Retailers Conference and Expo (APRCE) for 2015.  The Phils. won the bid to host the biennial Asian Meet after Istanbul hosts this year in October.

The Department of Justice hosts a whole-day Seminar-Workshop on the “Promotion of Compliance Program & Advocacy Activities” together with Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA) at the Sofitel Phil. Plaza on 6 August 2013.  PAGASA was represented by Director Johnny Lim and STC. Picture shows Mr. Hiroki Numba, GM of Taisei Construction Corp.’s  Legal Department, (with interpreter beside him) sharing his experience with Compliance Policies and Programs of the company through its 117 years of history. Other picture shows DOJ Asec. Geronimo L. Sy with STC and PASI Pres. Carlos Cabochan taking a photo-op. This Workshop is in preparation for DOJ’s push for an Anti-Monopoly/Anti-Competition Law.

As Thailand prepares to take the upper hand in exhibiting the best of Asean in an MOU- signing event at Dusit Hotel on 7/24/13, PAGASA is invited as an industry witness and active stakeholder in exhibitions both here and abroad.  The Thai Convention and Exhibition Bureau (an office directly under  the Office of the Prime Minister promoting commerce & trade) is proposing tie-ups with stakeholders that have to do with Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) to bring in delegates/ visitors to these shows in Thailand as well as the Philippines and encourage business matching for businesses.

PAGASA is represented at the 07/18/13 edition of the NPCC Meeting held at the offices of DTI Int’l. in Makati. Chaired by DTI Sec. Domingo (w/glasses in white)and assisted by Bureau of Trade Regulation & Consumer Protection Dir. Dimagiba (in jacket), DTI NCR Dir. Ferdinand Manfoste (in brown) and DA Asec. Salvador S. Salacup, he updated himself on factors that may affect prices and supply of basic necessities and prime commodities together with all concerned  government agencies (BSP, DOE, FDA, DOH, PAGASA>Weather Bureau, etc.) and Industry Heads  representing the Philippine economy.

At the 3 rd GenMeet of PAGASA for 2013 at the brand-new SMX Aura in Taguig, Patrick Cua and his team from A.C. Nielsen gave a talk on latest consumer trends. Attendees for the first time included industry colleagues from Metro Gaisano, Sunshine Supermarket of Baguio and ShoppersMart of Manila/ Zamboanga.

  PAGASA attended as an Industry Association supportive of the Academe-Industry initiative of the Phil. Business for Education (PBEd) as it signs an MOU with the Com- mission on Higher Education (CHED). Seated (L-R) are Atty. Julito D. Vitriolo, Ph. D./CHED Ex. Dir., Ms. Steele, Dr. Patricia  Licuanan, Ph.D./ CHED Chairperson and Mr. Ramon del Rosario/PBEd Chairman. With STC is Ms. Gloria Steele/Head of Mission of U.S. Aid in the Philippines.  

PAGASA’s STC was invited as one of the Guest Speakers at the 2 nd Gen. Meeting of Packaging Institute of the Phils. (PiP) on 27 June 2013. (L-R) STC, Maria Lourdes L. Agustin/DILG’s NCR Asst. Reg. Dir., PiP Pres. Joseph Ross S. Jocson, MMDA  Gen. Mgr. Usec. Corazon T. Jimenez, PiP VP-External Affairs Ms. Edita P. Molato, PiP Director/Past Pres. Henry L. Gaw   & Sugianto Tandio/Pres. Director of P.T. Tirta Marta of Indonesia. The latter presented his breakthrough tapioca/cassava-based plastic bags/products which cost as little as other non-food biodegradable bags/products. He chose the less-favored variant of cassava to make sure production of his products do not affect the food chain and still help the poorest farmers of his country.

PAGASA’s STC was invited to a Special Meeting with Mr. Bjoern Kempe, General Manager of Comexposium (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.>organizer of the SIAL Trade Shows worldwide. Mr. Kempe inquires about the needs of Filipino buyers when attending shows like his in Shanghai and how he could assist. Meeting was set up by Jill Aithnie S. Ang/Managing Director (across STC) of Worldbex Services Int’l.>organizer of MAFBEX.

PAGASA was invited to a Meeting by the Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health & Research of the Department of Health at their offices on 9 May 2013 to discuss the proposed guidelines on the sale of Polycarbonate Infant Feeding Bottles & Spill-Proof Cups containing Bisphenol A by supermarkets and other retail outlets. Said materials pose a lot of health dangers to infants.

On Labor Day of 2013, PAGASA held its 2Q General Meeting at the One Café and Events Place inside One Corporate Center in Pasig. OnPrem Concepts, makers of 5am Breads, hosted the Meeting that delved on market expansion at a period of growth in an Election Year.

PAGASA’s STC meets with Nelson Co of TradeChannel Phils., Inc., Myrna Padilla of OFW Watch and Sec. Ivan Uy of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (in casual pink) who renders advice to OFW Watch. The latter is an OFW organization based in Davao and has for its members thousands of OFWs. The Coffee-Meet  was set on 29 April 2013 to discuss the potential of a tie-up for BuySalubong.

PAGASA’s STC is represented at discussions on the desired linkage between industry and the academe specifically for management-oriented courses to align the courses/subjects offered by the different colleges in developing graduates with the necessary/relevant skills to contribute to the economy. Heading this series of meetings is Phil. Business for Education (PBEd) on 11 April 2013 at the Han Room of the Tower Club with Amcham, PCCI, PAGASA and others.

After some nine months, the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) under the chairmanship of the Sec. of DTI calls a Council Meeting as prices and supply of grocery items were relatively stable since the last meeting. DTI Sec. Gregory Domingo (speaking) is flanked by USec. Zenaida Maglaya and Bureau of Trade Regulation & Consumer Protection (BTRCP) Dir. Victorio Mario Dimagiba as well as DA ASec. Salvador Salacup (partly hidden) and the rest of the concerned government agencies and industry associations/players.

The Police Community Relations Group of the Phil. National Police under Chief Superintendent Gen. Sonny Yanga David (beside STC) and his colleagues (Station 11 Commander Col. Norberto Babagay of Galas, QC; to his left) briefs PAGASA on 3-19-13 regarding the role of today’s PNP in community building and relations. They also discussed emergency procedures during hold-ups and how citizens should get engaged and contribute in maintaining peace and order.

On 14 March 2013, the Phil. Bus. For Education (PBEd) held a Dinner Meeting at the Balagtas Room of the Manila Peninsula and invited Dept. of Education (DepEd) Sec. Bro. Armin Luistro (in the center in white seated between two gentlemen in coat) to listen to the results of the recently-concluded Higher Education Summit. Bus. & Ind. Assns. like PAGASA, MAP, BAP, AmCham,  ECCP, PMAP, etc. were invited to validate findings and to tie-up with the academe for proposed projects.

Steve Cua/Pres. of PAGASA gives a talk entitled “To the Supermarket we GO!” at the annual Conference of PinoyME where Micro Entrepreneurs meet. This was held on Day 1>3/7/13 and advised the attentive audience on how to present themselves and their products when  they offer items to supermarkets.

1Q Board Meeting on 6 Mar. 2013 was held at Inagiku Japanese Restaurant at Makati Shangrila. (Foreground, clockwise) Liansel Sy/Liana’s, Patrick Ong/formerly Parco, William Villanueva/ Purity, Atty. Arnaldo Cariño -host/PMFTC, Bobby Ang/Topline, Steve Cua/Welcome, Fred Gravador / Simplicity Ministop, Johnny Lim/ 680, Karl Tan/Budgetlane. Absent were Roy Chua/ Daily and Edna Ontiveros/Candice Megamart.

Dept. of Trade & Industry (DTI) Sec. Gregory L. Domingo (beside lady in green) together with his four Undersecretaries (L-R) Lilia de Lima (2 seats left of the Sec.; concurrent Chair of Phil. Export Zone Authority <PEZA>), Adrian C. Cristobal, Jr., Zenaida C. Maglaya, Merly M. Cruz and Asst.Sec. Josephine Romero (left of Ms. de Lima) attend in full force the Consultation Meeting with Civil Society Organizations on 4 Mar. 2013. The Dept. of Budget & Management has required all government agencies to consult stakeholders (including PAGASA) in the computation/justification of their Annual Budget as presented to Congress and the President for approval. This move to assert transparency in governance was initiated this year and this exercise was for DTI’s Budget for 2014.

PAGASA was invited to the fourth and final Public Hearing of the QC City Council on An Ordinance Adopting an Investments Incentives Code for QC at the Penthouse of the Rembrandt Hotel. Sponsor-Coun. Allan Benedict S. Reyes (L) awaits his turn as Coun. Vicente G. Belmonte, Jr. discusses. National Real Estate Assn. Pres. Benigno T. Cabrieto, Jr. (foreground) follows the discussion with his copy of the proposed Ordinance.

PAGASA was once again invited as an organizer for the 2013 National Retailers Conference. At the brainstorming session for this year’s theme on 2/20/13 at the Q Bistro/Malayan Plaza, STC was with representatives of Blue Wave Complex, Bahay Pasalubong, Penguin Munsingwear, Sketchers, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, The Primer Group, etc. Meeting was handled by PRA Sec. Gen. Evelyn Balmeo-Salire.

PAGASA was invited to the Summit on Higher Education organized by the Phil. Business for Education (PBEd) and sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Dev’t. (U.S. AID) held from 31 Jan.-1 Feb. 2013 at the Shangrila Mactan.  Presidents/Principals/Rectors from forty Private/State/Local Universities attended together with Industry Representatives to tackle the challenges of Philippine Colleges and try to match Industry Needs with School Graduates. STC had a picture taken with the new Pres. (Fr. Jett Villarin, S.J.) of his alma mater. The 2-day Symposium included a lot of heavy discussions and workshops in trying to forge unity amongst these colleges, which sat together for the first time, in trying to add quality to the education of their students.