On the eve of 5 February 2020, the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association held its 1st Quarter General Meeting inside All Day Supermarket along C-5/Libis.  PAGASA normally holds its GenMeets at a place where there is a new business model or format to see and learn from.  For this edition, erstwhile member All Day Supermarket was the store on expose.  We were generously toured around the store and its warehouse by Pippo and treated to dinner as well. Everyone had a grand time touring this beautiful store.

A Congressional Hearing was held on 28 January 2020 by the Committee on MSME Dev't. on a proposed bill to require supermarkets to provide 10% space in ones selling area to MSME suppliers for free. I respectfully declined by saying that even without legislation, most supermarkets do provide spaces for free for "deserving" MSME suppliers.

On 27 January 2020, PAGASA Pres. Steven T. Cua  was invited as a Speaker at the Midas Hotel & Casino by the National Academy on Science & Technology (NAST) for a forum on Single-Use Plastic Bags.  He discussed the pros and cons of using these at supermarkets; that together with other stakeholders, we may come up with a win-win situation.

 

The Meeting with the good city Mayor resumed in the afternoon of 10 January 2020 which was meant for discussions and open forum leading to a protocol on the sale of tainted pork products as discovered in one of the supermarkets in this city supplied by a reputable meat vendor of significant size. Other PAGASA members present were Fred Gravador, Desmond Chua of Daily Supermarket and couple Alfred and Heidi Gatmaytan of Kiko Mart.  A press conference on the results of this Meeting took place on 19 Jan. 2020 (see picture with bright yellow pin light background).

 

 

PAGASA members attending the orientation/hearing on ASF at QC City hall takes a quick lunch at a nearby 7-11 behind City hall so they can get back for the continuation of the Meeting.  (L-R) STC, sisters Susan Garces-Lim of JC Plaza and Lalaine Garces of GL Supermarket, and brothers Paolo and Zandre of Simplicity Ministop.

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 2nd 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.

 

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.

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.

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.