2Q GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING OF THE PRA

Representing PAGASA at the PRA GMM for the 2^nd Quarter at Novotel Hotel at the Araneta Center on 29 June 2017, STC listened to PRA’s Legal Counsel and a partner at the Bengzon, Negre, Untalan Intellectual Property Attorneys Office, Atty. Ferdinand Negre (in coat) present very clearly “How to Use Intellectual Property to Create Value for your Retail Business.” He was aptly joined by the very informative Atty. Jesus Ros-Division Chief of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines>an entity under the DTI.  They gave very fine examples of how understanding Intellectual Property Rights can make your brands earn strong equity.

PUBLIC HEARING ON DTI’s SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE

On the afternoon of 28 June 2017, the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB) of the Department of Trade Industry invited stakeholders to a public hearing on the guidelines in the implementation of SRP under the jurisdiction of the DTI.  PAGASA, under its President Steven T. Cua, stated its objection to the implementation of the SRP by the DTI under normal economic conditions.  He states that it is best for laissez faire and the normal market forces to dictate on the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities. Competition keeps retailers (and manufacturers/suppliers for that matter) in check. You may find PAGASA’s position on this in the following link:

PAGASA AT NPCC MEETING WITH DTI SEC. RAMON LOPEZ

In the morning of 15 June 2017, the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) held its second meeting under the Duterte Administration generally to discuss the food supply and price situation in the City of war-town Marawi.  As tension continuously mounts in said City and Martial Law is declared over the whole of Mindanao, price freeze for basic necessities in this southern island takes effect.  Also discussed is the potential increase in food prices with the proposed excise tax on sugared beverages and the new tax on salted foods.  As is with every NPCC Meeting, the DTI invites the press for a conference to clarify matters and issue statements for the public to be aware of the on-goings in the economy and the plans of government to address certain concerns.  Almost always, PAGASA is invited to this Conference headed by DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez and Usec. Teodoro Pascua. STC mentions when questioned that fundamentally, price is a function of supply and demand but that pricing/price positioning, on the other hand, is a strategic business decision regardless of macroeconomic factors; that suppliers may opt to increase/decrease prices as a consequence of anticipated conditions which may be favorable or adverse to their business.  As in the case of anticipated taxes on prime commodities, some manufacturers have already opted to increase prices for some of their sku’s even before taxes are put in place so they don’t have to do so when competitors adjust their prices.