On 5 November 2020, PAGASA was invited to attend Retail Asia's webinar entitled "Success Factors for an Exceptional Online Customer Experience" by UltraCommerce, an Australian firm with an online platform like those of Lazada,  Zalora, etc.

 

 

 

In view of the amount of fake paper bills circulating in the economy, PAGASA sends this advisory on how to tell what is fake from what is real:

 

A vigilant shopper sent this video to a social media platform and it went viral. Her observation that the health-hazardous puncturing of minute holes on powdery products packaged in plastic bags (like sugar, salt and the like) to let air out and make displays in supermarkets even and easier for stocking is very valid in view of the uncontained spread of COVID-19. PAGASA members were advised to refrain from this practice.

PAGASA was honored to be included as one of 10 consultant-agencies for the formulation of a Strategic Statement for the pillar Product Market (there are 12 pillars/FGD's incl. Infrastructure, Labor Market, ICT, Financial System, etc.) for presentation to the World Economic Forum (at a Zoom Meeting that took the whole morning). With STC on 16 September 2020 were Messrs. Ruben J. Pascual/PCCI, George Chua/FPI, George Siy/FFCCCII, Paul Santos/PRA, Carlos Cabochan/PCCTA, Ms. Ma. Flordeliza Leong/ PhilExport, Ms. Marinella Gilda Gamboa/Phil. Competition Commission, Dir. Sandra Marie Recolizado/Bureau of Investments and Atty. Ma. Liza Sebastian/Bureau of Customs. Next level of discussions is the National Level where the output is 12 Strategic Statements to be presented at the World Economic Forum in showcasing the Philippines as a competitive economy.

 

 

PAGASA’s STC was invited by veteran newscaster Miguel Gil to the studios of the Philippine News Agency on 29 Aug. 2018 to air the views of supermarkets on supply of basic necessities and prime commodities and prices in the market.

PAGASA Pres. Steven T. Cua attended the Senate Hearing on a review of the Philippine Retail Liberalization Act with Senators Aquilino Pimentel III (Chair) and Sherwin Gatchalian under the Committee on Trade, Industry and Entrepreneurship on 28 Aug. 2018.

 

As announced on 21 August 2020, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is issuing new paper bill money with worth of P1,000, P500, P200, P100, P50 with new security features to protect the economy and the public from being victimized by criminal syndicates who print and circulate fake money bills.  Also introduced is the new P20 coin so that hopefully, it has a longer circulation life than its paper counterpart.

 

 

 

 

PAGASA’s STC was a virtual guest done live on 6 August 2020 over Ch.5's talk show on issues "Sa Totoo Lang" w/hosts (Top Left,clockwise) Chiqui Vergel, Joee Francisco and Cheryl Cosim on the state of Supermarkets during the new Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), in coordination with the Department of Interiors and Local Government (DILG) started issuing Quarantine Passes and limiting it to only one member per household to cut down on the number of people who have access to supermarkets and pharmacies/drug stores during lockdowns in certain localities. This limits the number people who interact with others outside of their households to avoid contamination with the dreaded Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19).