On the evening of 7 May 2024 Saripay, a digital fintech company catering to sari sari stores introduced itself to PAGASA at Abè Restaurant inside Gateway Mall 2 at Araneta City. Saripay was presented by (R-L) Reymund Erwin "RE" Rollan/Managing Director for Phil. Operations, Sandeep Bhalla/Saripay Founder based in Singapore, Erin Victoria Montenejo & Martin Asuncion. Everyone at the Meeting deemed it a good fit to engage Saripay with PAGASA members.

On the afternoon of 30 April 2024, a Zoom Mtg on the additional amount extended to SCs & PWDs (starting 3/25/24) eligible for 5% discount was organized by ECOP, PCCI, PRA & HRAP. In photo are PRA Pres. Bobby Claudio and DTI CPAB's Mary Denzylle R. Bunal. DTI's Manuel Francis Llado presented the Joint Admin. Order by DA-DTI-DOE in behalf of CPAB & Atty. Ron Michael Uy in behalf of the Legal & Legislative Division of the BIR. Participants were only allowed to ask questions via the chat box so PAGASA's STC asked two Questions.

As a consequence of the Meeting held between PAGASA and Speaker Martin Romualdez just six days earlier, the House Committee on Trade and Industry requested for a Hearing in the morning of 29 April 2024. Invited was PAGASA and chicken raisers group UBRA (United Broiler Growers Association) to share with Congress as to which current laws may be inflationary in nature and which ones need to be enacted to create an economic environment conducive for investment and growth of the food production and retailing industries.

FHA SINGAPORE 2024 PAGASA was represented by Kim and Trixie Reyes/B-Right Supermarket in Rizal at the cocktails organized by Canada on the eve of 24 April 2024 for its exhibitors and guests at FHA. In photo, they are with the Business Development Team of Army Navy Philippines and Louise Pasadilla/Trade Commissioner of the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines. Also part of the delegation from PAGASA but not in photo is Board Member Edna and Cyrille Ontiveros/Candice Megamart in Tuguegarao.

Congratulations to Paolo and Jessa Ong of Ongville Supermarket for the very successful opening of their store in Mauban, Quezon end of April 2024.

The voice via phone patch in the previous video by ANC was the voice of PAGASA's Steve Cua as interviewed by ANC's Alvin Elchico. In the early morning of 4 March 2024, TV 5's veteran news anchor Ted Failon & DJ Chacha interviewed STC live via phone patch again on the Proposed Extending of Maximum Weekly Purchase Amount eligible for 5% discount by SCs & PWDs at food retail outlets.

In the morning of 29 February 2024, PAGASA Executive Director Steven T. Cua was invited to grace the Official Opening of the 14th edition Thailand Week at the Activity Center of Glorietta Mall in Makati. Together with him was (L-R) Phil. Franchise Association Sam Christopher Lim, Thai Trade Center of Manila Head Janthana Chatimonee, His Excellency Mr. Tull Traisorat/Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of the Philippines, Senator Mark Villar, Makati Mayor Abigail Binay and PRA President Roberto Claudio.

During the period starting 20 February 2024, media began a barrage of opinion-sourcing regarding how the different sectors felt about the proposed legislated daily wage increases by the Upper House and the Lower House of Congress. PAGASA's STC suggested a one-time bonus for wage earners instead of a permanent increase in wages or to increase wages in installments to alleviate the plight of wage earners but at the same time, ease off the cashflow predicament of industries and establishments. In photo, GMA 7's Jonathan Andal interviews STC.

PAGASA elects a new set of Directors every two years on the last quarterly meeting of designated years. Then the Directors elect amongst themselves for the new set of officers. It's been a week since that lively GenMeet at The City Club's Tang Palace inside The Alpha Suites. Time to formally announce the new set of Officers of PAGASA for 2023-2025

Engr. Godofredo "Fred" Gravador
President
(Simplicity Ministop)

Liansel Sy
Vice President
(Liana's)

Myke Teodoro
Treasurer
(Velamart, Cavite)

Alfie Gatmaytan
Secretary
(Kikomart)

Edna Ontiveros
PRO
(Candice Megamart, Cagayan Valley)

William Villanueva
e-Sec

Steven T. Cua
Exec. Dir.
(Welcome Supermart)

Congratulations to this New Team! Mabuhay ang PAGASA!