The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. organized a Forum on the controversial yet misleading concept of the “endo” on 18 August 2016 at the Main Ballroom of the Century Park Hotel in Manila.  Seated on stage were FFCCCII Pres. Angel Ngu and officers/past presidents (L-R) Henry Lim Boon Liong, Mr. Ngu, Dept. of Labor & Employment (DOLE) Usec. Dominador “Ding” Say, his able Staff, PP Alfonso Siy and PP Tan Ching. Hosting for the afternoon is Vice Chair for Industrial Relations Comm. Ms. Mary Go Ng.  The room swelled with people as businessmen wanted to be clarified with the Labor Initiatives of the Duterte Administration. PAGASA’S STC was present to catch the latest regarding the issue.

On 16 August 2016, STC was invited by the Senate to give a report on the state of the food retail/supermarket industry to the newly-elected Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade & Industry, Sen. Miguel Zubiri (in coat seated alone at head of one end of the discussion table).  Present from the public sector were the DTI Team headed by Sec. Ramon Lopez and Presidential Adviser on the Economy> Joey Concepcion. Also presenting his AVP was Chairman Guillermo “Bill” Luz of the National Competitiveness Council.  From the private sector were Philexport’s Sergio Luis Ortiz, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc.’s VP David Chua, officers of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Phils., the American Chamber of Commerce in the Phils. and the EU Chambers of Commerce & Industry’s Mr. Henry Schumacher, Pres. of the IT & Business Process Assn. Phils. (IBPAP), Federation of Phil. Industries’ Jesus Arranza, Phil. Franchise Assn.’s Pres. Dr. Alan Escalona, CFE & Chairman Emeritus Samie Lim, PRA’s Pres. Atty. Paul Santos and PAGASA’s Pres. Steven T. Cua. Everyone painted an objective yet optimistic picture of the economy based on their industry’s perspective.

 

 

PAGASA Pres. STC answered all the questions directed at him regarding Cold Chain in the Philippines from the supermarket operators’ point-of-view.  Consulting him were (from STC’s right to left) World Food Logistics Organization’s Arne J. Martinsen, SIAM Professionals, LLC.’s Pres. Kent Sisson and AGRO Merchants Group’s Bill Vargo.  Seated beside STC is their host> Koldstor Centre Phils.’ Marc Dizon. They were trying to address the country’s  inadequate cold chain facilities from farm to market and looking into the possibility of setting up a whole system of cold chain equipment to ensure the freshness and food safety of fresh produce sold in different markets.  Meeting took place afternoon of 16 August 2016 at the Cucina Cafe of Marco Polo Hotel, Ortigas Center.

 

On the two days when NRCE and the PAGASA General Meeting were held, a few PAGASA Members decided to visit the 57th Mall of the SM Group> S Maison on J.W. Diokno Blvd under the newly-constructed Conrad Hotel.  This upscale mall just opened on 15 July 2016 and as a result of the scarce human traffic for the moment, is a paradise of a mall when compared to the crowded malls in the metropolis.  After Day 2 of NRCE, STC together with former VP-Roy Chua (Daily Super Market), Treasurer Myke Teodoro (Cavite’s Vela Mart) and Dir. Arjie Lim (Palawan’s Andrew Grocery) went for their caffeine fix at Café Benne on the ground floor of the SMX in MOA.