In the afternoon of 10 December 2019, a young social entrepreneur by the name of Von Alvaro Payumo asked for a meeting with PAGASA Pres. STC to explore his idea of a solution in helping  customers remember to reuse their ecobags with the help of an App. They are in the stage of producing their prototype and need to interview supermarkets to find our what is needed on the platform that they are creating. Von was introduced to PAGASA via Member Rembrandt Tolentino.      

Another Congressional Hearing on plastic bags was held on 10 December 2019 chaired by bill proponent Rep. Jose Maria Clemente “Joey” Sarte Salceda of Albay’s 2 nd District who also held the position of Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. He proposed that a P10 tax/kilo be charged to manufacturers of plastic bags so the government can collect more taxes. With his usual witty and humorous style of managing his meets, he quickly ended the hearing by slapping a P20 tax for every kilo of plastic manufactured. He says consumers will not notice this since they may or may not be passed on this increase in operating expenses by manufacturers and retailers! Photo at the end of session includes Mother Earth Foundation’s Sonia Mendoza, Rep. Joaquin Chipeco Jr. of Calamba and DENR Usec. Benny D. Antiporda who is in charge of solid waste management and local government units concerns.  

On 3 December 2019, PAGASA held its Christmas Party at High Street Cafe of Shangri-la at the Fort.  The Affair was a festive one as the new set of Board of Directors elected the new officers of the Association for 2019-2021 just  before the broke bread with each other in wishing 2020 to be a great year for retailing.

The new Board Members set a meeting on 3 December 2019 just before the Christmas Party of PAGASA to determine the new set of Officers for 2019-2021.  Elected President once more is Steven T. Cua of Welcome Supermart but to be added to him is the position of Executive Director. Retained as Vice President is Liansel Sy of Liana’s Supermarket. Jon Mykel Teodoro of Velamart retains his position as the Club’s Treasurer. Association Secretary is Edna Ontiveros/Candice Megamart in Tuguegarao and P.R.O. is Alfie Gatmaytan of Kiko Mart.    

The House of Congress set another follow-up Meeting for plastic bags on 1 December 2019 to hasten review on the issue before the year ends.

On 27 November 2019, the House Committee on Ecology headed by Rep. Glona G. Labadlabad of the 2 nd District of Zamboanga del Norte set a hearing on plastic bags. PAGASA was represented by its Pres. STC together with Director and former Vice President Fred Gravador.  A review was set on how to treat plastic bags by the new Chairwoman of the Committee.    

On 21 November 2019, Mr. Dexter Deyto/General Manager of Informa Markets, Phils. visited the PAGASA Office to propose a tie-up with the Association on the upcoming Food & Hotel Asia in Singapore on Mar. 2020.  PAGASA is to be a Supporting Association in return for concessions for visiting members to the Show. Mr. Deyto used to be the Managing Director for SMX at the Mall of Asia.

On 7 November 2019, Senate held a public hearing to discuss how online businesses should be taxed. PAGASA Pres. Steven T. Cua was seated between Atty. Cyril Alfred Castro of Lazada, Phils. and the Senior Adviser of the American Chamber of  Commerce of the Philippines, Mr. John Forbes.  The Meet was exploratory in nature.  Photo taken after the session included the Chairman of the Phil. Retailers Assn., Atty. Paul Santos (in blue), Vice Chairman Roberto Claudio, PRA staff Mayan Sangil and Consumer Rights Advocate Joaquin Ma. Tamano, Jr. who represented Laban Konsyumer Inc.

At the General Meeting held at the Ayala Mall Makati Circuit on the eve of 30 October 2019, the members voted into office the new set of Board of Directors of PAGASA for 2019-2021.

The Association held its 4/Q General Meeting at  Ayala Mall Makati Circuit on 30 0ctober 2019 with guest speaker Tax Law expert Emelino T. Maestro at this Taiwanese restaurant on 4/F. Some members of PAGASA were having problems with the Bureau of Internal Revenue; thus, the lecture on tax laws and what to avoid to run businesses more smoothly.  

DTI hosted the 2nd Consumer Welfare Congress at the Manila Hotel on 25 October 2019.  Stakeholders like PAGASA were invited to grace the occasion and the lady of the hour was Undersecretary Ruth Castelo. Every October is celebrated as Consumer Welfare Month.

STC missed this year’s Opening Ceremonies but decided to pay this annual Agri-Business Trade Show a visit on the eve of 3 October 2019.  This is the biggest trade event for businesses in agriculture. The outside exhibitors brought prized livestock as well as interesting fowl for the public to consider breeding these as a business.

In d morning of 26 September 2019, the Senate Committee on Trade and Industry chaired by Sen. Aquilino “Kok o” Pimentel III held a hearing to review the current minimum investment requirement for foreign retailers interested in setting up business in the country.  Unlike in the lower house, stakeholders were given a fair chance here to air their stand on the review of the said Law.  Attending for PAGASA were its President Steven T. Cua, Vice President Liansel Sy and Treasurer Jon Mykel Teodoro. The Team took the opportunity to have shots taken with Sen. Pimentel and Franklin Drilon aside from the other stakeholders from PRA.

The Committee on Trade & Industry chaired by Rep. Wesley Gatchalian held a review on the minimum investment required by a foreign retailer to enter the Phil. market on 24 September 2019.  PAGASA was represented by STC and former VP Fred Gravador of Simplicity Ministop.  PRA came in full force too.  However, STC was not given a chance to air PAGASA’s position despite his raising his hand four times to signify that he wanted to take the floor.  In fact, erstwhile Rep. Allan Benedict Reyes of QC’s 3 rd District who sat beside STC subtly suggested to him to butt in and say “Your honor…” but the piercing look on Chairman Gatchalian’s eyes seem to be saying “one more raising of your hand, Mr. Cua and I may cite you for contempt!”  The session was slanted to accept a minimal $100,000 minimum investment as a reasonable amount for foreign retailers to enter our market!  PAGASA had opted for a minimum of $1.5 M.  After the session, attendees had a picture opportunity with STC’s cousin Rep.

On 20 September 2019, STC was interviewed by GMA-7's Raffy Tima on the issue of planned ban on plastic bags by the Quezon City government.      

At the third co-organizers breakfast meeting set on 19 September 2019 at the usual venue Annabel’s Fine-Dining Restaurant, this year’s show chairman was Sandy Javier of Andok’s Chicken fame who graciously hosted a trip to his farm for Agrilink co-organizers.  PAGASA was honored to act as Agrilink, Foodlink, Aqualink’s show chairman in 2007.

On the afternoon of 17 September 2019, the QC Legislative Council held a Public Hearing on the handling of single-use plastic bags. STC, Susan Lim (JC Plaza) and Lalaine Garces (GL Supermarket) attended in behalf of PAGASA but were prevailed upon by the representatives of SM, Jollibee, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and other retailers who opted for the ban of single-use plastic bags in QC!  Granted that all who attended are aware of the debilitating effects of plastic bags to our environment, banning its use did not consider alternative forms of packaging for taking out groceries/food from establishments. The Ordinance is to take effect on 1 January 2020.

On 10 Septermber 2019, the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the Philippines hosted a cocktail for Commercial Attache Vu Viet Nga who was winding up her tour of services in the Philippines.  This was coupled with a Business Forum at the Midas Hotel where Philippine Consumer- Centric Traders Assn. Pres. Carlos Cabochan also attended with Allyson S. Artes/Chairman for the Phils.- Vietnam and Phils.-Poland Business Councils.  Ms. Vu was succeeded by Ms. Nguyen Kim Phuong as the embassy’s new Commercial Attache.

At the Grand Opening of Food & Drinks Asia on  5 September 2019 at the World Trade Center, PAGASA’s STC was included as a VIP and was honored by being included in the ribbon-cutting ceremonies of said tradeshow. Also invited was Philexport’s Pres. Emeritus Sergio Ortiz-Luis.

The topic for PAGASA’s guesting at the Teleradyo Program “Konsumer, atbp.” on 31 August 2019 was the proliferation of alcopop on the shelves of supermarkets enticing the young to start into the habit of drinking alcohol with such attractive packaging that looked like innocent juice both to unsuspecting youth and parents alike.

On 30 August 2019, ASEAN held its Regional Forum on  Sustainable Consumption at the Manila Hotel. Representing PAGASA were its President Steven T. Cua with erstwhile Member Alexis Gaisano of the Country Gaisano Group.

Kantar World occasionally gives exclusive presentations of its marketing findings to its clients and PAGASA was honored with two seats on 29 August 2019 at Shang at the Fort. This particular presentation was entitled “Disrupting the Future.”

On 14 August 2019, the Department of Science and Technology hosted a forum on "Irradiation of Food Products" at Annabel's Restaurant in Tomas Morato, QC. Headed by DOST’s PCAARRD (Phil. Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Dev’t.) Research Specialist Abigail f. Gueco, MPAf of the Technology Transfer and Promotion Div. DOST’s Phil. Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Head of Irradiation Services Section, Luvimina G. Lanuza, MNSA, PAGASA was briefed together with other Stakeholders regarding the benefits of irradiation on food products. Present at this forum was Paul B. Juat, Asst. to the Chairman Emeritus of A. Brown Co., Inc. which is interested In putting up an irradiation facility and is the company behind Annabel’s Fine Dining Restaurant.

The Phil. Competition Commission hosts a forum on Anti-Competition in d Supermarket Industry on 9 August 2019 at the Phil. Competition Commission’s Board Room on the 25/F of Vertis North Corporate Center Tower 1 along North Avenue, QC.  PIDS Pres. Celia M. Reyes extended the invitation while LaSalle’s economist Mitzie Irene Conchada presented the growth of the biggest supermarket chains in the country and how it may be affecting the fair competition amongst industry members.