DTI Usecs. Teodoro Pascua (Consumer Protection Grp.) and Zenaida Maglaya (Regional Opn’s Grp.) called an urgent meeting to discuss the ill-effects of an earthquake the magnitude of which Metro Manila may find itself in a dilemma for months-to-come if not properly prepared and handled.  Meeting was held on 23 November 2017 at the Office of Usec. Pascua at 2/F UPRC Bldg. along Gil Puyat Ave.  Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) together with the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) convened the Inter-Agency Resiliency Team. DTI is a member of the TWG on Food.   PAGASA suggested that learning from past lessons: 1.) The military (not the PNP) must secure all food retail establishments to maintain order when the Big One strikes (and avoid looting); 2.) Road Plans have to be revealed, same with the 4 quadrants of MMDA and evacuation areas of these 4 areas to avoid over-congestion in one area and for the public to be traveling in the areas which are decongested; 3.) to continuously decongest

DTI Sec. Ramon Lopez chaired the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) Meeting held on 21 Nov. 2017 at 1:30pm at the AVR Conference Room Penthouse of the BOI Building.  As the year ends, the DTI Sec. and NPCC Chairman reviews the movement of prices leading to Noche Buena for the buying public. He looks into the price of meat, poultry and agricultural products, on fuel and LPG, on essential and non-essential drugs, even on plywood and primarily on Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities.  The BSP reports that FDI during the first 9 months of 2017 was down only 5.2% vs. 14% the previous year.

The Phil.-Japan Training Inst. of Cultural Technology, Inc. invites PAGASA to a Business Briefing Session Forum regarding the upcoming Supermarket Trade Show to be organized by the New Supermarket Association of Japan (NSAJ) in Feb. 2018.  The forum was held at the Tosca Room of the Dusit Thani Hotel on the 15 th of Nov. 2017.  Attending the Forum for PAGASA were former VP Fred Gravador with son Paolo and STC.  Also with them were PRA Pres. Atty. Paul Santos and a few supermarket suppliers.

PAGASA was represented by its Pres. Steven T. Cua and its Corp. Sec. Desmond Chua to NEDA’s National Consultation at the Astoria Hotel on 9 Nov. 2017 to contribute to the “Governance Framework for the Agribusiness Subsector towards Rapid, Inclusive & Sustainable Growth for the Phils.”  The consultation was carried out in a workshop format and participants were asked to take part in speaking their piece on how to improve efficiencies in the agribusiness subsector. NEXUS Agribusiness Solutions, a Los Baños-based consulting firm handled the sessions for NEDA.