On  6 Dec. 2017, the officers of LNA Management Group Corp., organizers of the annual trade shows Food & Drinks Asia and Asiafood invited STC to discuss how PAGASA can form some synergy with their group by holding a special project during Food & Drinks Asia for the following year.  Led by Josephine Miranda (2L), Marivic Gacer and Geraldine Amores (R), the group met at Shiok Shiok Singaporean Foods, the themed restaurant simulating street hawkers scene in Singapore.

On the eve of 6 Dec. 2017,  six gallant gentlemen and an iron lady walked into a reserved room at the Coffee Shop of Shangri-la at the Fort.  Inside this conclave they exchanged classified retail information and general pleasantries. (L-R) Steven Cua/Welcome Supermart, Edna Ontiveros/ Candice Megamart (Tuguegarao), Fred Gravador/ Simplicity Minimart (Muzon, Bulacan), Alfie Gatmaytan/Kiko Mart, Myke Teodoro/Velamart, Liansel Sy/Liana’s and Arjie Lim/Andrew’s (Puerto Princesa).  Sorely missing that evening were Robert Go/Prince Group of Supermarkets (Vis-Min) and Desmond Chua/Daily Supermarket. The elected Officers for the term 2017-2019 were: Steven Cua – President Liansel Sy    -  Vice President Myke Teodoro   -   Treasurer Desmond Chua  -   Corp. Secretary Fred Gravador    -  P.R.O.

DTI Usecs. Teodoro Pascua (Consumer Protection Grp.) and Zenaida Maglaya (Regional Opn’s Grp.) called an urgent meeting to discuss the ill-effects of an earthquake the magnitude of which Metro Manila may find itself in a dilemma for months-to-come if not properly prepared and handled.  Meeting was held on 23 November 2017 at the Office of Usec. Pascua at 2/F UPRC Bldg. along Gil Puyat Ave.  Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) together with the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) convened the Inter-Agency Resiliency Team. DTI is a member of the TWG on Food.   PAGASA suggested that learning from past lessons: 1.) The military (not the PNP) must secure all food retail establishments to maintain order when the Big One strikes (and avoid looting); 2.) Road Plans have to be revealed, same with the 4 quadrants of MMDA and evacuation areas of these 4 areas to avoid over-congestion in one area and for the public to be traveling in the areas which are decongested; 3.) to continuously decongest

DTI Sec. Ramon Lopez chaired the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) Meeting held on 21 Nov. 2017 at 1:30pm at the AVR Conference Room Penthouse of the BOI Building.  As the year ends, the DTI Sec. and NPCC Chairman reviews the movement of prices leading to Noche Buena for the buying public. He looks into the price of meat, poultry and agricultural products, on fuel and LPG, on essential and non-essential drugs, even on plywood and primarily on Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities.  The BSP reports that FDI during the first 9 months of 2017 was down only 5.2% vs. 14% the previous year.

The Phil.-Japan Training Inst. of Cultural Technology, Inc. invites PAGASA to a Business Briefing Session Forum regarding the upcoming Supermarket Trade Show to be organized by the New Supermarket Association of Japan (NSAJ) in Feb. 2018.  The forum was held at the Tosca Room of the Dusit Thani Hotel on the 15 th of Nov. 2017.  Attending the Forum for PAGASA were former VP Fred Gravador with son Paolo and STC.  Also with them were PRA Pres. Atty. Paul Santos and a few supermarket suppliers.

PAGASA was represented by its Pres. Steven T. Cua and its Corp. Sec. Desmond Chua to NEDA’s National Consultation at the Astoria Hotel on 9 Nov. 2017 to contribute to the “Governance Framework for the Agribusiness Subsector towards Rapid, Inclusive & Sustainable Growth for the Phils.”  The consultation was carried out in a workshop format and participants were asked to take part in speaking their piece on how to improve efficiencies in the agribusiness subsector. NEXUS Agribusiness Solutions, a Los Baños-based consulting firm handled the sessions for NEDA.

PAGASA was invited on 11 October 2017 by (L-R) Cris Galit and Mina Satorre (both of Filipino Mirror Media Group Corp.) and Marvin Nisperos Estigoy/ VP of Business Mirror to become a contributor to the Pilipino Mirror/the 1 st Business Tabloid in the country.  STC will bring up the kind offer to PAGASA Members at its next Gen. Meeting on 25 Oct. 2017 for approval.

On the side of the public hearing on the sale of fresh produce and fishery products at the U.P.’s University Hotel on 10/24/17, PAGASA’s STC was interviewed by GMA-7 regarding the potential increase in prices of basic necessities and prime commodities in view of the Administration’s serious intent to push the Tax Reform for Acceleration & Inclusion (T.R.A.I.N.) Program and have it enacted into law as soon as possible.

On 24 October 2017, the DA’s Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) held a public consultative meeting for the revision of the Philippine National Standard (PNS) Code of Hygienic Practices for the sale of fresh agriculture and fishery products in markets and authorized outlets at the University Hotel of the U.P. Diliman Campus.  PAGASA was invited as a Resource Person when it came to requirements of  supermarkets in the hygienic delivery of fresh produce and fishery products to make them more marketable.

PAGASA was invited to a hearing on the Congressional Committee on Food Security on 10 October 2017 to act as a Resource Speaker on food wastage in supermarkets. PAGASA Pres. Steven T. Cua attested to the fact that supermarkets have practically zero wastage as bad orders are returned to suppliers.  Having explained to the members of this Committee of the industry practice regarding bad orders, STC requested that supermarkets be excluded from being mentioned in the proposed bill.  However, the Members of the Committee argued that even if that is the case, they see no harm in adding supermarkets to their list of establishments with food wastage (even if there is none) since it will be very difficult to add these establishments (i.e., supermarkets) again in the future should the occasion arise that supermarkets may, sometime in the future, experience food wastage. This being the argument, STC posed no objection to their adding “supermarkets” in their list of establishments to be monitore

The biggest Agri-Business Trade Show in the country took place on 5-7 Oct. 2017 at the World Trade Center. On Opening Day, STC represented PAGASA (which Chaired for this Show back in 2007) with Special Guests Jose “Joey” Concepcion III-Pres. Adviser on SMEs and Mr. Roberto “Bobby” Amores (both in coat beside STC in group shot by red vidi screen). This year’s Show was Chaired by the Durian Growers Association based in Davao (picture with STC at DA Booth).

On 6 October 2017, the Phil. Retailers Association called a Special Meeting with available Board Members and select Members to discuss the alarming issue of the government’s intention to open the retail industry some more to foreign investors.  From a minimum investment of $2.5M for foreigners to be 100% owners of a Retail Operation, suggestion was to lower this amount to $200,000 only! Naturally, this alarmed the retail industry. PAGASA represented the food retailing sector of this industry at the Meeting.

At a lunch meeting at the Legend Seafood Restaurant across the World Trade Center, the Phil. Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI) held its first major General Meeting to assess the involvement of the various organization-members of this Chamber. Chaired by Col. Alejandro Teves Escaño, this Meeting was handled by PCAFI Pres. Phillip Ong. PAGASA has been designated Chair of the Agri-Supermarkets Committee of PCAFI. Meeting was held after the Opening of Agrilink at the World Trade Center on 5 October 2017.

On the afternoon of 5 October 2017, Phil. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte took time out from his very busy schedule to visit Agrilink at the World Trade Center to cut its ribbon for a second time on its Opening Day. PAGASA VP Liansel Sy attended the affair in behalf of the organization and was honored by being chosen to represent Agrilink at a group picture taken at the Affair. He also had his picture taken with Jose “Joey” Concepcion III, Presidential Adviser on Small and Medium Enterprises as well as Chairman of the popular movement for SMEs> Go Negosyo.

As in previous years, INTERPORC>Spanish Interprofessional Agri-Food Organization of White Pork invited PAGASA to a cocktail dinner called “Spanish Pork Night” on 26 September 2017 at the Fairmont Hotel. This year, they brought in Michelin Star Chef Kisco Garcia.  Group picture features new friends (L-R) Rex Liao/AVP-Sales & Franchising for iFresh Corporation, Francisco “Jong” Jimenez Jr./AVP & Bus. Mgr.-San Miguel Foods, Inc., PAGASA’s STC, Señor Alejandro Rodriguez Spanish White Meat Exporter and the guest Chef both in formal and wacky formats!

On 21 Sept. 2017, the Phil. Retailers Assn. held its Third Quarter General Membership Meeting to discuss updates on the retail scene as well as continue with the last two sessions of the National Retail Conference which was suspended in view of the earthquake that took place during NRCE. The two sessions were entitled: “Emerging Generation: Engaging Millennials” and “The Centennial Shoppers” by Kantar Phils. The GenMeet tackled “Understanding the Data Privacy Act” by Commissioner Raymond Liboro of the National Privacy Commission. As it turns out, this 5-year law is just being implemented now to guarantee the privacy of consumers in the day-to-day

On the second eve of the exhibit of ASIAFOOD 2017, LNA Events Group EVP Josephine P. Miranda seeked the assistance of PAGASA’s STC to answer some of the questions regarding market penetration of the head of delegation of Indian Exhibitors at the on-going Trade Show at the World Trade Center. They met on INDIAN EXHIBITORS LOOKING FOR FILIPINO MARKETS 14 Sept. 2017 at the Coffee Shop of the Jen Hotel.

DTI called a Special Meeting on the effects of the recent Bird Flu that hit Pampanga and how it is affecting demand and prices for chicken in Metro Manila.  Meeting was held on the afternoon of 13 Sept. 2017 at the Offices of DTI Usec. Teodoro Pascua. Discussion reveals that consumers continued to partake of chicken in their meals especially at Fast Food Outlets but were a bit wary to buy unbranded dressed chicken from market vendors and supermarkets. Representatives from the Dept. of Agriculture attended to allay fears of the epidemic spreading elsewhere outside of Pampanga.