PAGASA is an honorary member of the Phil. Chamber of Agri & Food Producers, Inc. (PCAFI) which held its online senatorial forum on 21 February 2022. In behalf of PAGASA, Steven Cua was invited to ask them about their opinion on development of the cold storage industry, value-adding to produce and packaging/marketing of farm produce for supermarkets.

On the Day of Hearts in 2022, Arjie Lim/Andrew's Grocery of Palawan (in blue) leaves his wife and family to visit Fred Gravador/Simplicity Ministop at the latter's Muzon (Bulacan) hypermarket. Much love within the PAGASA Family.

Fred was also conveniently single that day! 😅

Abruptly, the wife of Fred> Simple shows up!

Guested online on BizWorld Live on 8 February 2022 regarding how retailers must tread the tightrope in wanting to increase foot traffic, not discriminate against the un-vaxx-ed and insure some level of safety healthwise in their establishments. Program was hosted by Danica Laurel and Jester de los Santos.

At the height of another COVID-19 surge, PAGASA donated water and canned goods on 6 February 2022 to an area in Ligao City, Albay that was not served by their LGU and charitable institutions.

This article by Business World illustrates the clash in opinion between PAGASA/retailers and DTI/gov't. regarding the implementation of SRPs.

On 31 Jan. 2022, the DA crafted its National Agriculture & Fisheries Modernization & Industrialization Plan (NAFMIP) 2020-2030. This Plan is supposed to guide actions & directions towards transformative Phil. Agri aiming towards a food- & nutrition-secured resilient Phils. for prosperous farmers & fisherfolks. This Workshop broke up participants into groups. On screen you find the GM of FisherFarms (former DTI Asec.) Imelda Madarang and Resto PH Pres. Eric Teng/Mango Tree Restaurants giving their inputs for this Plan. PAGASA contended that it is the lack of continuity in implementation of roadmaps which always takes us back to Square One with any Plan. Great formulation of plans but inefficient execution/monitoring of plans & politics always get in the way of progress.

In the morning of 29 January 2022, the regular Saturday program of ABS CBN for Teleradyo> "Bida Konsyumer" guested PAGASA President Steven T. Cua with Ross del Rosario representing the market meat vendors of Star Market in Novaliches and Atty. Vic Dimagiba/President-Laban Konsumer. Over Zoom, veteran newsman Alvin Elchico hosted the program tackling for the week increase in prices of BNPCs as DTI comes out with a new List of SRPs amidst unceasing price increases in the world price for fuel. STC reiterated that SRPs not needed by the goverent as a tool to contain prices. Mr. del Rosario agrees.

Attending the First Quarter virtual General Meeting on 26 January 2022 was PAGASA Pres. Steven T. Cua, Dir. Robert Go/Prince Retail Group, Diana Prince Ang/AllDay, VP Liansel Sy/Liana's, Treasurer Myke Teodoro/Velamart, Arjie Lim/Andrew's, Dir. Kim Reyes/B-Kim Assenet, Rembrandt Tolentino/Supermarket at Azure, Alexis Gaisano/Gaisano Country Mall, Dir. Edna Ontiveros/Candice Megamart, Dir. Alfie Gatmaytan/KikoMart, Dir. Dustin Uy/San Roque Supermarket, Zoom host William Villanueva and Special Guest Karl Tan/former Super Palengke Group. Presented  were the Philippines' Top Retailers for 2020 and ASEAN Top Philippine Retailers for 2021. Also presented was Euromonitor International's Top 10 Global Consumer Trends for 2022.

Another afternoon online regarding plastic waste management on 19 January 2022 by PAGASA President Steven T. Cua. The Hearing by Congress is the result of the two marathon TWG Meetings the previous week to straighten out kinks shareholders may have in their role when the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) bill is passed into law.

Chairing the Hearing is Ecology Committee Head Rep. Glona C. Labadlabad (top, 2R) together with Deputy Speakers Camille Villar (upper rightmost) and Rufus Rodriguez who were co-authors of this Joint Bill. Congress finally passed it on third reading after years and years of hearings to effect laws on plastic waste management.

Ms. Nanette Medved-Po explained the role of PCX (Plastic Credit Exchange) which she heads in monitoring collection & recycling efforts of its members as posted on screen.

Chaired by Committee Secretary for Ecology Atty. Dilbert Quetulio, it was aided by Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez who stayed on the whole afternoon. On this day, the Bill was srutinized by 98 stakeholders word for word, line by line.

Presentations were made by WWF's Atty. Ina Guingona and PARMS' Atty. Bonar Laureto on their proposed structure for the EPR (see attachments). The public sector was represented by NSWMC Commissioner Crispian Lao and authorities from the DOST, DENR, DOF, BOC, BIR, DBM, MMDA, CHED and staff of Congress/Senate.

The private sector had Nestle, Unilever, Mondeliz, SM Prime, Jollibee, Alaska Milk Corp., Absolute Sales Corp. (for bottled water), KFC, McDonalds, PepsiCo, PCCI's Alfredo Yao (well-known manufacturer and packaging man), PPIA, Recyclers' Groups and PAGASA's Pres. Steven T. Cua.

For the academe and NGOs, there was U.P., Atty. Raul Academia of FPI/BCCP/Joint Foreign Chambers, PCX's Nanette Medved Po, CCC, Sonia Mendoza of Mother Earth Foundation, Greenpeace, Ecowaste Coalition, JSPC, PCAPI, AFPMP and other cause-oriented groups.

For a wholistic solution to plastic waste management in this country, producers would set up recycling facilities over time and a monitoring system would see to it that they minimize the plastic components of their manufactured products and collect the plastic wastes from these products for recycling.