On 21 May 2017, PAGASA volunteered to host the Supermarket Tour for foreign buyers/exhibitors at the well-attended IFEX 2017. Participants were limited to 30 and were broken down into four groups handled by PAGASA Pres. STC (Welcome), VP Liansel Sy (Liana’s), Treasurer Myke Teodoro (Velamart) and Active Member Charlene Lim (JC Plaza).  Attendees hailed from Mexico, the U.S., Argentina, Ukraine, Belgium, Cambodia, Japan, China, Malaysia, Israel and other countries interested in either supplying the Philippine market with their goods or in sourcing for Philippine items to be carried by the supermarkets they supply in the countries where they work in.  The group visited the food retailers in BGC and capped the day with a side-trip to the American Cemetery (formerly Fort McKinley) where American soldiers MIA during WWII were given a place of honor in view of their sacrifice. This Supermarket Tour is PAGASA’s special project and way of giving back to the economy on PAGASA’s 30 th Year

DTI’s CITEM held the prestigious International Food Expo (IFEX) at the World Trade Center on 19-21 May for 2017.  On its first eve, it held Cocktails at the lobby for the exhibitors and VIPs of this year’s event. On its 30 th Year as an Industry Association, PAGASA took the honors to host the Supermarket Tour for the visiting buyers and exhibitors of IFEX ’17>a fitting salute to its third decade of service to the industry. See post on 15 March 2017 regarding the planning for this cooperation.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat commissioned a project entitled: “Capacity Building for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Competition Policy” together with the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).  It appointed Australia-based Sustineo Pty Ltd to hold a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on 16 May 2017 to identify key issues for SMEs relevant to competition policy and law and possible actions/interventions that can remedy these issues. PAGASA was invited to represent the food retail industry. The event took place at the Mercure Hotel in Pasig City. Represented were Industry Associations in the service and manufacturing sectors.

After some 10 years since its launching, DTI decided to re-launch the “new improved” Bagwis Awards. DTI will now apply a bolder approach of getting retailers to seek this coveted seal of good housekeeping. Potential candidates will now be approached by the regional offices of the DTI and invited to apply for the said Award. Unlike before where winners of this award hold on to it perpetually, everyone holding on to this award will now be reviewed every three years to see if they still deserve to be given the award.  Submitted documents to earn this award has also been substantially minimized. DTI regional and provincial offices will be granted prizes for developing the most number of Bagwis Awardees in their areas for the next year.  Emphasis here on developing customer service especially for the regional retailers.

On 4 May 2017, PAGASA was invited to the deliberations for the Internal Rules & Regulations (IRR) of the Expanded Consumer Act by the Senate Committee on Trade, Industry & Entrepreneurship based on the bills filed by Senators Bam Aquino & Ralph Recto to update the public on circumstances surrounding online retailing and the newer forms of modern commerce.  At the session were DTI Usec. Ted Pascua and Laban Konsumer Chairman (& former DTI Usec. Vic Dimagiba) who “battled” it out over definitions, semantics and legal parlance on certain terms, clauses and stipulations of the proposed Expanded Consumer Act of the Philippines. Session was adjourned by 1pm and to be continued at a later date.  Though a lot of the participants were barristers, STC gave his practical two- cents’ perspective on a more realistic approach on how things are done in the workplace regarding sales and consumers’ rights.