Host for the early evening of 28 April 2023 General Meeting at Room 2 of SMX, Pasay was the trade show Philippine Food Expo organized by Philfoodex. PAGASA Members were encouraged to visit the Expo after four years of absence. Advocacy experts from PMFTC were invited to brief Members about the Vape Law that was currently passed and the nature of regular cigarettes compared to non-combustible alternative smokes. Members later held the Meeting Proper and dinner at XO Heritage Bistro inside S' Maison within Conrad Hotel.

PAGASA's Steven T. Cua was amongst diplomats at the Formal Opening Ceremonies of the Philippine Food Expo at the SMX, Pasay in the morning of 28 April 2023. (L-R) Madame Ambassadress of Papua New Guinea, Agrilink's Antonio Roces, PAGASA's STC, Ambassadress of South Africa & Ambassador of Russia to Manila. There was an overflow of VIPs gracing the occassion including DTI Sec. Federico Pascual, Senator Mark Villar, Philfoodex Pres. Ruben See, ECOP's Sergio Ortiz-Luis, ambassadors of Brazil, Srilanka, Spain, etc. People were hungry for business opportunities after the lockdowns. This particular trade show experienced four years of absence.

On 27 April 2023, PAGASA's STC was invited to speak at the DTI-initiated Processed Fruits & Nuts (Industry Cluster) Conference held at Miriam College. This is PAGASA's advocacy in helping MSMEs get their products into the mainstream of mass retailing. After the talks, business mentoring took place among participants who chose among the speakers whom they want to get advice from.

On 25 April 2023, CNN9 News' Lois Calderon interviewed PAGASA's Steven T. Cua regarding the Executive Branch's initiative to tax the public for the consumption of single-use plastic bags in supermarkets and other retail outlets. It seems there "may" exist a case of double taxation here as plastic bag manufacturers are recently taxed P20 per kilo of plastic bags produced. This is passed on to retailers and is most damagingly passed on to consumers in areas where single-use plastic bags are allowed by LGUs. Now these same set of consumers will be taxed again for the same item?

In the morning of 25 April 2023, DTI's CPAB conducted a Webinar on how Plastics Credit Exchange (PCX) fits into the scheme of EPR. PCX acts as a PRO (Producer's Responsibility Organization) that provides compliance services/consultancy to the OE's (Obliged Enterprises) which are required to register with the National Ecology Center for plastic packaging waste management compliance. OE's are manufacturers/enterprise with P100M in assets (excluding real estate). OE's may engage with PRO's such as PCX to assist them in their sustainability programs. Meg Santos of PCX gave a very comprehensive presentation on how they can assist OE's in their compliance with the EPR Law.

PAGASA Pres. Steven T. Cua was paid a visit at PAGASA Office on 20 April 2023 by Team WL Foods to explore ideas on how to partner as supplier-retailer after the pandemic as practically all businesses endured scars during the lockdowns. Team was led by Charles (in black), son of WL (William Lim) himself.

In the morning of 18 April 2023, DTI-CPAB held a Webinar on Extended Producers Responsibility. This Law was signed in January of this year and was made effective in April. DENR EMB's Atty. Ivy Joyce L. De Pedro replies to my queries on: Whose responsibility is it to collect used plastic packaging for House Brands & Supermarket-Repacked Goods like rice, sugar & others? How about FMCG sold online > Online Operator or Manufacturer's responsibility to collect the used packaging after sales? Plastic bags > who should collect these? What if we sell new plastic bags to smaller retailers, eateries, vendors, et. al.?

STC met for early lunch with the prime movers of the trade show Asiafood Expo (AFEX) on 31 March 2023:  (R-L) Marivic S. Gacer, VP & COO and Marielen M. Maranan, Proj. Mgr. Show makes a comeback this 6-9 Sept. at the WTC. The consultative meeting explored ways on how PAGASA & 1SC Group can attain synergy.

For three straight years, PAGASA was visited by the Commercial Attache of the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Manila, Mr. Lao Nguon Eng. He wanted to push Cambodian rice (regular, premium & organic), black pepper & salt to a country that needs to import these basic necessities.

STC had dinner on the eve of 30 March 2023  with PMFTC's (L-R) Cheyie Navarette, Jeric Crisol & Maru Lim Chua-Yap. Discussed about Vape Law and their plan to host the next General Meeting of PAGASA after visiting the Philippine Food Expo at SMX on 28 April 2023.