The Philippines is one of the few countries which does not have an active Competition Act or Law. The Phil. Competition Commission (PCC) was created in 2015 to help regulate trade and competition to assure that business is carried out in a fair manner (to disband monopolies and oligopolies as well as prevent conditions conducive for collusion/connivance) in the better interest of consumers.  The PCC works together with BSP, ERC, SEC, NTC, IC, CAB and other regulatory bodies in the pursuance of their mission.  Immediate past NEDA Sec. Gen. and Economic Planning Sec. Arsenio M. Balisacan acts as PCC’s founding Chairman.  The Forum introduces the PCC to business associations, coops, consumer groups and other stakeholders on how the PCC can help these stakeholders view competition and pricing as being fair in our economy.  On the sidelines of this Forum, STC gives former DTI Usec. Atty. Victorio Mario Dimagiba a token of PAGASA’s appreciation (a commemorative coin) for partnering

In the afternoon of 17 March 2017, STC was invited to speak during the 5-day Sikat Pinoy National Food Fair held at the three sections of the SM Mega Trade Hall.  This event organized by the DTI’s Bureau of Domestic Trade features regional delicacies and the best products of the OTOP (One-Town One-Product) Program.  A lot of the SME’s were interested on how to penetrate the mainstream of food retailing; that is, to get their products on shelves of supermarkets.  STC gave them practical tips and guidelines on how to best do this with the highest probability

On 9 February 2017, the Phil. Retailers Association called a Meeting at the EDSA Shangrila’s Heat Coffee Shop to pick the brains of a few invited attendees for this year’s NRCE.  Headed by PRA Chairman and FAPRA (Federation of Asia-Pacific Retailers Association) Pres. Lorenzo “Enchong” Formoso, Ayala VP and Head of Ayala Malls’ Rowena Tomeldan and PRA Sec. Gen. Evelyn B. Salire, the group brought out their marketing ammunition to try to make this year’s NRCE as unique and appealing to retailers from all over the country.  Date of NRCE is still to be finalized but tentatively dated for August or September 2017.

At the end of a function by the PRA, STC was invited to stay and discuss the possibility of holding Break-Out Sessions during this year’s National Retailers Conference to be held at the SMX in August.  Initial discussions with PRA’s Sec.Gen. Evelyn Salire turned into a full table with PRA Chairman Lorenzo Formoso, PRA Pres. Atty. Paul Santos and their staff joining in discussions regarding this proposed tie-up as well as how to make this year’s NRCE more appealing and marketable to participants.

On the 16 th of March 2017, the Phil. Retailers Assn. held a Retail CEO Economic Briefing at Marco Polo Hotel at Ortigas Center. Economist in the House was Mr. Federico R.D. Ocampo, MSC/ Senior VP & Chief Investment Officer of BDO Unibank, Inc.- Trust & Investments Group.  He mentioned that four of the prevailing local trends in retailing are Premiumization, Health & Wellness, the growing importance of Convenience and Online Buying. PAGASA was given two awards that day by the PRA: the Active Member Award and the Membership Loyalty Award  while STC was personally given an Award of Recognition for his involvement in PRA projects and advocacies through the years.

The International Food Exposition (IFEX) is organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) under the Dept. of Trade & Industry to highlight Filipino products to foreign buyers as well as (its new thrust) to invite foreign suppliers to bring in their products to our shores.  For this new thrust, (L-R) CITEM’s Kate Piñeda/Head of Buyer Marketing Services Div., Chol de la Paz/Marketing Head for Local Buyer Campaign and Romleah Juliet P. Ocampo/CITEM Project Manager visited the PAGASA office in the afternoon of 15 March 2017 to discuss its arrangement with PAGASA for this year’s Offering.  PAGASA is tasked to organize a supermarket tour for foreign suppliers who are eyeing the local market.

In the early morning of 14 March 2017, DTI organized a Forum to discuss with stakeholders (bricks-and-mortar as well as on-line retailers) the definition and regulations surrounding Sales Promotions of various kinds and creations. The Office of the Solicitor General made a recent observation that many retailers seem to have “skipped” the time requirement (at least 30 days) stated in Article 116 of the Consumer Act for DTI to approve or deny any sales promotion.  Many questions were brought to the floor from department stores to telecommunications companies to television stations and online vendors. PAGASA’s STC was honored to have been invited to sit on the panel with Usec. Ted Pascua and Directors Lilia Salonga and Nestor Manfoste. Of course, STC asked questions in behalf of supermarket operators and retailers. The function room at Berjaya Hotel was expecting 100 guests but was filled to the rim with 250!

PAGASA’s STC was invited to help in the screening of exhibitors to this year’s National Food Fair in March by the DTI’s Bureau of Domestic Trade.  The activity took all of two days from 9-10 2017 to check on the proposed items of some 200 applicant- companies, both new and veteran.  The process was tedious and the standards stringent to make sure that it will be worth the visitors’ time when they go to this Tradeshow and that the applicants are serious in trying to grow their companies and excel in what they do in promoting the plight of MSME’s.