In the early morning of 14 March 2017, DTI organized a Forum to discuss with stakeholders (bricks-and-mortar as well as on-line retailers) the definition and regulations surrounding Sales Promotions of various kinds and creations. The Office of the Solicitor General made a recent observation that many retailers seem to have “skipped” the time requirement (at least 30 days) stated in Article 116 of the Consumer Act for DTI to approve or deny any sales promotion.  Many questions were brought to the floor from department stores to telecommunications companies to television stations and online vendors. PAGASA’s STC was honored to have been invited to sit on the panel with Usec. Ted Pascua and Directors Lilia Salonga and Nestor Manfoste. Of course, STC asked questions in behalf of supermarket operators and retailers. The function room at Berjaya Hotel was expecting 100 guests but was filled to the rim with 250!

 

 

At the Speaker Yñiguez Hall of the South Wing Annex of the House of Rep., PAGASA was invited in the morning of 22 Feb. 2017 as a resource in the deliberations on the proposal for the creation of a  Food Security Council. Chaired by (L-R) Rep. Leo Rafael M. Cueva/Neg. Occ., Vice Chairman Rep. Gil Acosta/Palawan assisted in the hearing with Rep. Michael L. Romero, PhD. 1-PACMAN, Rep. Gabriel H. Bordado, Jr./Camsur, Rep. Jorge “Bolet” Banal/QC and Rep. Randolph S. Ting/Cagayan.  Also present were Rep. Kaka J. Bag-Ao/Dinagat Islands and the representatives from DA, DAR, LBP, Government Statistics Agencies and the different Nutrition Agencies under DOH.  PAGASA was the lone representative from the private sector at this Hearing.  STC stated that in behalf of the private sector, PAGASA felt there was no need to create a Council  on Food Security given that the objective was to oversee the funding and supply of food/nutrition of the poor citizens of this country.  STC agreed with the opinion of DAR that the bills proposed in this Committee had more to do with feeding than food security; thus, the need to change the name of the proposed Council.  Though noble in purpose, the bills aimed to help solve malnutrition by supplying children from poor families with produce coming from small farmers/fisherfolk and this, STC found as a bit too ambitious given logistical/distribution problems especially since produce have such short consumable/edible life.  Instead, STC proposed that a Consultative/Coordinative Council be set up for this purpose but to leave the sourcing to LGU’s and the distribution/ execution of the feeding to NGO’s. 

 

 

On a sunny Sunday, fifth-year students from De La Salle University-Manila currently completing their thesis for their Applied Corporate Management degree, visited STC at PAGASA Office and checked on expiry dates of some promo products to discover how supermarkets and suppliers team up in pushing products and avoiding food wastage. Thesis of the four entitled “Food Waste Management Practices of Supermarkets in the Phils.” were carried out by (L-R) Rafael Lagdameo, Joy Lumantas, Eugenio Alfredo Gloria and Ramon Campos.

 

On 15 Feb. 2017, the Congressional Committee on Ways and Means headed by Rep. Dakila Carlo “Dax” E. Cua of Quirino held a public hearing at the Rolando Andaya Hall, South Wing Annex of the House of Representatives to address stakeholders regarding the tax proposals of the Department of Finance through its collection arms> the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.  BIR Commissioner Dulay and the representative from the BOC backed up DOF Usec. Karl Kendrick Chua.  All seemed calm until Cong. Joey Sarte Salceda/Albay entered the room and questioned the power point presentation of BIR Dep. Comm. Nestor Valerioso regarding the BIR’s efficiency in collections for the last year. STC informed this august body the history of retail competition in the country and how support from suppliers have dwindled through the years as the big players dominated the scene.  Also, he intimated the fact that one of the reasons smaller stores sell out to the giants is because of challenges brought about by the BIR; aside from the squeeze in margins and from neighboring stores.

 

 

PAGASA’s STC was invited to help in the screening of exhibitors to this year’s National Food Fair in March by the DTI’s Bureau of Domestic Trade.  The activity took all of two days from 9-10 Feb. 2017 to check on the proposed items of some 200 applicant- companies, both new and veteran.  The process was tedious and the standards stringent to make sure that it will be worth the visitors’ time when they go to this Tradeshow and that the applicants are serious in trying to grow their companies and excel in what they do in promoting the plight of MSME’s.

 

On 9 February 2017, the Phil. Retailers Association called a Meeting at the EDSA Shangrila’s Heat Coffee Shop to pick the brains of a few invited attendees for this year’s NRCE.  Headed by PRA Chairman and FAPRA (Federation of Asia-Pacific Retailers Association) Pres. Lorenzo “Enchong” Formoso, Ayala VP and Head of Ayala Malls’ Rowena Tomeldan and PRA Sec. Gen. Evelyn B. Salire, the group brought out their marketing ammunition to try to make this year’s NRCE as unique and appealing to retailers from all over the country.  Date of NRCE is still to be finalized but tentatively dated for August or September 2017.

 

PAGASA’s STC was invited as a resource person to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means’ public hearing on tax reform and to listen to the Dept. of Finance’s proposals in lowering the personal income tax and consumption tax with offsetting measures.  Attending the hearing were Committee Chairman Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara and Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Miguel Zubiri, J.V. Ejercito and Nancy Binay.  Representing the DOF were Usec. Karl Kendrick T. Chua defending the department’s proposals with BIR Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay and Dep. Comm. Nestor Valeriano and BOC Officials. Discussions will ensue after this initial hearing. The Senate Hall was filled to the rim for this hearing on 31 January 2017.

 

On the 27th of January 2017, PAGASA was invited to speak to all stakeholders at a Full Waste Recovery and Recyclin  Symposium held at the Mini Theatre of the QCX Museum inside Quezon Circle. Organized by the National Solid Waste Management Commission, STC gave an account of what PAGASA Members have done and gone through in addressing the issue of improper disposal of plastic bags and how this is adversely affecting our environment.  He expounded on PAGASA’s position of volunteering as a collection agent for used plastic bags so recyclers can get hold of these bags for the purpose of recycling; that the QC Local Government has adopted PAGASA’s Position Paper in addressing this issue which is to engage the whole citizenry in returning these used plastic bags to retailers or else face a minimum penalty for not practicing their role as a responsible member of Planet Earth.  STC ended his stay by signing a Manifesto at this Symposium stating PAGASA’s full support to the shareholders’/Alliance’s cause.

 

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas held a public consultation with all stakeholders at their Exec. Bus. Ctr./Main Meeting Room at 5/F of their 5-storey Bldg. inside the Main Office Compound in Manila on 25 Jan. 2017 to figure out which way of rounding- off prices is most convenient and practical for business to avoid violating the “No Shortchange Act” which was just passed into law.  Heading the Meeting were (L-R) Director Ernando S. de Leon of the Currency Issue and Integrity Ofc., Dep. Gen. Counsel Teofilo R. Ragadio, Dep. Gov. Diwa C. Gunigundo, Managing Dir. Carlyn A. Pangilinan and Ms. Iluminada T. Sicat/Managing Dir.-Currency Management Sub-Sector.  PAGASA VP Liansel Sy was able to use his charms in enjoining these BSP officers to take selfies with him all with wide grinning smiles. Everyone must have been very amenable to the proposal of the BSP.

 

On 25 Jan. 2017, the Special Committee on Food Security at the House of Representatives held a Meeting on “Banning Supermarkets…from Throwing Away and Spoiling Unsold Food” at the Speaker Zulueta Hall, South Wing Annex.  PAGASA was represented by its President STC who informed the well-attended Committee that in general, food retailers return goods which are about to expire to suppliers.  As to what they do with these items, it is the suppliers’ prerogative.  House Bill No. 4263 was filed by Rep. Evelina G. Escudero of the 1st District of Sorsogon. STC poses for a picture with Committee Chairman Rep. Leo Rafael M. Cueva of the 2nd District of Negros Occidental and Member Rep. Peter Unabia of the 1st District of Misamis Oriental.