Emergency Joint online Committee Cong. Hearing since morning of 7 March 2022 on oil price hike. It was chaired by Rep. Sharon S. Garin (Eco.Affairs) & co-chaired by Ways & Means Comm. Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda, Transpo. Chair Edgar Mary S. Sarmiento and Energy Chair Juan Miguel M. Arroyo. DOE presentation on price history & plans done by Usec. Gerardo Erguiza who is counting on fuel subsidies for the transport sector & hopeful for suspension of fuel excise taxes by Congress. Rep. Salceda pointed out that the price of diesel has gone up by 44.1% from exactly a year ago; 31.26% for gasoline! Fuel surcharge for international trips FROM a range of P218 to P2,076 TO P543 to P5,026! DOB was represented by Usec. Rolando Toledo; LTFRB by Chairman Martin Delgra III & DOTr by Usec. Alberto Suansing. NEDA's Usec. Rosemarie Edillon also reported. Dir. Reynaldo Cancio was in charge of the Wage Council for NEDA but wouldn't comment on effect of price hikes on the minimum wage.

STC guested on the teleradyo program of Net25 called "Anong sa Palagay Mo?" hosted by Ali Sotto & Pat D regarding price situation in view of 10 straight weeks of fuel price increases.

The period of 3-8 March 2022 was a period of rapid interviews by the different platforms of news media. Various committees of Congress asked for emergency meetings on 7 March re. Price Increase of Fuel & how it affects economy. PAGASA is invited.

PAGASA was invited once more to be part of the Conference Organizing Committee for NRCE this year. Held the 1st Zoom Meet on 3 March 2022 chaired by Brian Liu of Penshoppe with BLIM's Greg Lim, Alfamart's Harvey Ong, Ace Hardware's Enchong Formoso (former PRA Pres.) & the NRCE Secretariat

BusinessWorld Live invited STC once more on 2 March 2022 to guest in their program online. Discussion centered on opening up of economy as IATF upgrades MM's health situation to Alert Level 1.

Rationale for the windy background: STC was on a 3-day Workshop in Tagaytay. His segment in this am's episode begins at the 6:50 mark.

PAGASA guested online on 26 February 2022 on Teleradyo's "Bida Konsyumer." Topic was impending price increases because of the conflict between Ukraine & Russia. Francisco "Bombits" Buencamino represented the Canned Fish Manufacturers Association, Atty. Vic Dimagiba- Laban Konsyumer group and PAGASA President STeven T. Cua for the side of food retailers.

PAGASA attended on 24 February 2022 the 1st of 6 Sessions of a Workshop organized for the Department of Agriculture by SEARCA on A Roadmap for Processed Pork. On screen is Chester Tan, the young & able Chairman of the Nat'l. Federation of Hog Farmers citing the unlevel playing field due to unjustified imports.

PAGASA is an honorary member of the Phil. Chamber of Agri & Food Producers, Inc. (PCAFI) which held its online senatorial forum on 21 February 2022. In behalf of PAGASA, Steven Cua was invited to ask them about their opinion on development of the cold storage industry, value-adding to produce and packaging/marketing of farm produce for supermarkets.

On the Day of Hearts in 2022, Arjie Lim/Andrew's Grocery of Palawan (in blue) leaves his wife and family to visit Fred Gravador/Simplicity Ministop at the latter's Muzon (Bulacan) hypermarket. Much love within the PAGASA Family.

Fred was also conveniently single that day! 😅

Abruptly, the wife of Fred> Simple shows up!

Guested online on BizWorld Live on 8 February 2022 regarding how retailers must tread the tightrope in wanting to increase foot traffic, not discriminate against the un-vaxx-ed and insure some level of safety healthwise in their establishments. Program was hosted by Danica Laurel and Jester de los Santos.