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.