PAGASA's STC attended the first quarter National Price Coordinating Council Meeting on the morning of 14 January 2025 at the new Head Ofc of the Department of Trade & Industry inside the 14-storey Filinvest Building along Gil Puyat Ave. DTI Sec. Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque chaired that Meeting together with Department of Agriculture (DA) Sec. Francisco Tiu-Laurel who had to attend to work on the justification for declaring a state of emergency on the supply of "affordable" rice. Issue was the high price of rice in the market despite the decrease in tariff on imported rice. DA could only instruct the National Food Authority (NFA) to release rice in its regional warehouses if the NPCC deems the situation as urgent in nature and the market needs government intervention. PAGASA's inclusion in the NPCC requires an appointment by the Philippine President himself.

https://www.youtube.com/live/8NKog9jcjA4

In the morning of 13 January 2025, former ANC Newscaster Maiki Oreta acts as anchor for BNC's program "Industry Beacon." She asks tough questions regarding the industry featured for her Program. PAGASA's Executive Director Steven T. Cua laid out the evolving food retail landscape in the country through the decades after WWII.

MEDIA BLITZ DURING YULETIDE IN COUNTRY WITH LONGEST CHRISTMAS SEASON

Just before Christmas Day of 2024, media feasted on the retail on-goings leading to this happiest season of the year. Inquiries on supply and demand as well potential price hikes filled the air as well as on air.

On 5 December 2024, PAGASA Director Raymond Obcena attended the Public Hearing on the negative impact of fake PWD Cards on the income of establishments as well as the collection of taxes by the government. This Hearing was hosted by the Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian in joint effort with the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development. Mr. Obcena presented PAGASA's Position Paper and proceedings were livestreamed. See video and start at the 2 hour 9 min. mark.

In the early morning of 5 December 2024, PAGASA's Executive Director Steven T. Cua attended a breakfast briefing with (L-R) Diedrah Kelly, Exec. Dir., Canada's Indo-Pacific Agriculture & Agri Food Ofc (IPAAO) which is headquartered in Manila with the aim of penetrating Asian markets with Canadian goods; STC; Christopher Matthew Ilagan, Corp. Affairs Lead of PEPSICO (for Phils./Malaysia/Singapore/North Asia) as Chair for Advocacy Committee of the Phil. Chamber of Food Manufacturers, Inc. (PCFMI); UPLB Prof. Geny Lapiña, Dept. Chair of the College of Economics & Management; and Martin Sullivan> Trade Counsellor for IPAAO. Another panelist who was late for this Briefing was Chef Roby Goco, Executive Chef of Degustation Corp. which operates the Cyma Group of Greek Restaurants who was representing the Restaurant Division of HRAP (Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Phils.). Some 300 Canadian CEOs joined this Trade Mission. The room PAGASA briefed contained over 100 delegates in the Agri and Agri Food business. All the delegates together with some 400 Filipino counterparts jampacked the main ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, BGC for the plenary session attended by DTI Sec. Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque and Special Presidential Assistant for Investments and Economic Affairs Sec. Frederick Go. Team Canada was headed by their Minister for Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, the Hon. Mary Ng MP. She was assisted by Canadian Ambassador to the Phils. Hon. David Hartman. The Group first visited Indonesia before checking on the Philippines.

Mr. Cua also got to meet Mr. Goldy Hyder, Pres./CEO of The Business Council of Canada.

On the afternoon of 22 November 2024, STC was introduced via Zoom to Tristan "Taj" Angeles who represents the Alcoholic Bev. Alliance of the Phils. (ABAPI) and Jiayi Lu (based in Shanghai) & Siau Xi Goh (based in Singapore; in gray), the last two representing the Asia Pacific Int'l. Spirits & Wines Assn. (APISWA). The objective was to look for synergies the three associations can work with.

In the morning of 14 November 2024, Yayen Gallardo of Brain Trust, Inc.> a third party research company doing the preliminary work for QC Government's initiative versus food wastage moving towards food security, interviewed STC online. Just like most inquiries/initiatives by Congress exploring solutions to the same issues, PAGASA's Executive Director suggested that the QC Government tie-up with NGOs in properly handling excess food from establishments especially since these are turned-over after closing hours; hours after they were freshly prepared. Documented and signed turn-over forms for excess food to a QA officer designated by NGO must protect donors from any liability that may arise from spoilage/shrinkage during distribution to target beneficiaries especially those which were mishandled.

In the afternoon of 13 November 2024, Milagros "Bung" S. Roa of the Productivity and Development Center of the Dev't. Academy of the Phils. (DAP) paid STC a scheduled visit at the PAGASA Office to video him for DAP's 2024 Output of their Modernizing Government Regulatory Program (MGRP). This is to monitor improvements/conflicts in regulations and policy development in government agencies/offices.

As the year nears its end, various media outfits like GMA-7, ABS CBN, True Network Phils., DZBB, SMNI/DZAR and others approach Mr. Cua asking for fearless forecasts on supply/demand, prices and consumer outlook from 6-9 November 2024 even as the All Saints Day holidays have just taken place.

On a clear evening on 8 November 2024, His Excellency Ambassador Tull Traisorat of the Royal Embassy of Thailand hosts a formal dinner at his residence at North Forbes Park in Makati. Main guests for the evening were PAGASA Executive Director Steven T. Cua, PAGASA Treasurer Mykel V. Teodoro, PAGASA Director Raymond B. Obcena. Purpose was for them to meet with the Officers of PENS Worldwide Training Company, Ltd., a leading Thai distributor of FMCG, furniture and construction materials. PENS also operates in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. They want to explore local firms who can distribute their products for them as well as look into Philippine-made products which can fit their mold in the countries where they operate. Also invited for that evening were PCCI Pres. Nina Mangio and representatives from Bangkok Bank, Shopee Phils., Security Bank & Trust Company and others.