On 24 June 2014, the Phil. Retailers Assn. held its 2nd Quarterly General Meeting at the brand-new Marco Polo Hotel at the Ortigas Center (still to be launched on 7 July!). PAGASA was represented by STC. Google Asia’s Justin Keh presented on the evolving significance of online presence a  consumers today “search” before they actually buy. A.C. Nielsen also presented on how to attract the growing and changing consumers belonging to the middle-income sector.

DTI Sec. Gregory Domingo, acting as Chairman of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) calls an Emergency Meeting in view of uptick of prices for rice, sugar, garlic and chicken among others. He is supported by DTI Usec. Victorio Mario Dimagiba, DA Asec. Leandro Gazmin (concurrent head of the Agri-Marketing Assistance Services <AMAS>) and DTI-NCR’s Arch. Ferdinand Manfoste.  The NPCC is made up of all concerned government agencies that have to do with the movement of prices of basic necessities and prime commodities like DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Sugar Regulatory Authority (SRA)and the National Food Authority (NFA), BSP, DOE, LTFRB, DOJ, PAGASA (the Weather Bureau) and the like. It also includes Industry Organizations like PAGASA, NAMVESCO (Market Vendors Org’n.), Phil. Assn. of Hog Raisers/Poultry & Broiler Org’ns., Phil. Assn. of Meat Processors and major manufacturers whose products are categorized as market leaders.  STC brings up the controversial issue of DTI’s SRPs which sometimes run counter to SRPs from major suppliers (since price adjustments from suppliers are immediate whereas DTI takes around 2 weeks to review these adjustments and evaluate them whether they are warranted; sometimes, price adjustments are “disapproved” even after suppliers have already disseminated said price adjustments to retailers resulting in some pricing confusion). STC is interviewed after the Meeting regarding confusion on SRPs and pricing in supermarkets.

SIAL is a 50-year old French Company in the Events Industry.  It holds only one B-2-B tradefair  in each  continent but made an exception in Asia where it has held this Event in Shanghai during the last decade. They decided to hold one for South East Asia given its emerging markets and have handpicked Manila for this purpose. Japanese, Korean, European, Indonesian, Chinese, American traders were represented at the Show looking for distributors/buyers for their products/produce. This is a joint venture between SIAL and MAFBEX which also held its Show simultaneously at the Tent beside the World Trade Center. STC takes a shot with Bjoern Kempe/ GM for SIAL Asia and Joanne Cook/ Reg. Dir. Of SIAL ASEAN.  He also discusses with DA Sec. Proceso Alcala who was Guest of Honor (together with Sen. Cynthia Villar who heads the Agriculture Committee in the Senate) regarding the recent high prices of garlic. At PAGASA’s booth, STC is in a huddle with Markenburg Int’l. Foods’ Jimmy Cu and exporter Glenn Sy.

On 14 June 2014, STC was invited as guest at “Konsumer, atbp.,” a one-and-a-half-hour program hosted by newly-appointed DTI Usec. Atty. Victorio Dimagiba & Alvin Elchico.  This episode discussed prices of basic necessities/prime commodities during school opening and the supply of Sugar, etc. Beside STC is Sugar Regulatory Commission’s Rosemarie Gumera.