PAGASA held its 1Q General Meeting for 2019 at Japan Town of Ayala Vertis North on 30 Jan. 2019. Hosted by PMFTC, the meeting centered on thefuture of the tobacco section of supermarkets aswell as the state of competition in the industry.

In the morning of 29 January 2019, the Senate held a Hearing on another round of tax price increase for the tobacco industry. Stakeholders in the said industry as well as medical experts in studies on the effects of tobaccos on human beings were present to deliberate on the issue. PAGASA Pres. STC sat as a Reference Person at this activity.

In the afternoon of Jan. 29, 2019, PAGASA’s STC was invited as usual to screen the products worthy for presentation at Bureau of Domestic Trade's Philippine Food Show to be held at the MegaMall's Mega Trade Halls soon after. STC’s perspective is to choose products with proper packaging meant for supermarket shelves and not just for trade shows and gift shops.

On 27 January 2019, PAGASA Pres. STC had an opportunity to visit the members of PAGASA in Dumaguete City, province of Negros Oriental. He went to check on Lee Super Plaza, Lee Hypermarket and the two stores of Cang’s, Inc.

Ms. Deborah Sy, Research Assistant working for Dr. Mitzie Conchada from School of Economics, De La Salle University and in partnershipwith the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS, an agency under NEDA) conducted research on a project which aims to present and examine the current state of competition in supermarkets, groceries and hypermarkets considering the slotting arrangements the retailers may have with the manufacturers. Interview at PAGASA office took place on 23 January 2019.

DTI Sec. Ramon Lopez chaired the first National Price Coordinating Council Meeting on 17 January 2019 at the penthouse of the DTI International Building. The Chairman wanted to reign in inflation. The usual industry associations and government agencies attended the meeting ending with a press conference. DTI, DA & BSP presented at the this Meeting.

Upon the formal invitation of the Trade Promotion Council of India, PAGASA sent a delegation to India’s Indus Food Tradeshow at the India Exposition Mart In Greater Noida on 14-15 January 2019.