11 PRA NEWS UPDATES PHILIPPINE RETAILING
PRA ELECTs NEW SET OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR TERM 2021-2023
The Philippine Retailers Association ( PRA ) recently welcomed a new set of Board of Directors for the term 2021-2023 during its annual meeting and first ever virtual elections via Zoom on June 24 , 2021 .
This term ’ s Board consists of 12 re-elected directors and 3 new additions to the Board . The 3 newly elected directors are Socorro Reyes-Bautista , President of Blooming Ventures , Inc ., Susan Sy-Thai , Corporate Adviser of Primer Group of Companies , and Raymond Alimurung , CEO of Lazada E-Services Philippines , Inc .
The rest of the PRA Board of Directors that will continue their term for the next 2 years include Ace Hardware Philippines Board Adviser Lorenzo C . Formoso , Central Books Director Ma . Alegria S . Limjoco , CMG Retail , Inc . Chairman Chan Kok Bin , Golden ABC , Inc . CEO Bernido H . Liu , Mercury Drug Corp . President Vivian Q . Azcona , Picture City President Atty . Paul A . Santos , Quorum International ( Toby ’ s Sports ) Chairman Roberto S . Claudio Sr ., Robinsons Recreation Corp . President Frederick D . Go , Rustan Commercial Corp . President Bienvenido V . Tantoco III , SM Retail , Inc . Director Jorge T . Mendiola , Sportshouse Int ’ l . Leisure , Inc . President Mars C . Chua , and Wilcon Depot , Inc . SEVP-COO Rosemarie B . Ong .
In view of the unique and serious concerns brought about by the pandemic to the industry , the new set of PRA Board of Directors during their Board meeting on 29 June 2021 , have decided to re-elect and retain the incumbent officers - Rosemarie B . Ong as President , and Atty . Paul A . Santos as PRA Chairman- for an initial and limited period of six ( 6 ) months , from 1 July to 31 December 2021 to allow more time for a more thorough and deliberative process to elect new set of PRA officers for the term 2021-2023 .
Photo from : Ayala
The country ’ s group of retailers is backing the government ’ s call to the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to help revive the economy and restore jobs . Philippine Retailers Association president Rosemarie Ong said the group is urging citizens to do their part to get inoculated against the virus .
“ Our efforts to rebuild our economy and the livelihood of our people depend on our people having the confidence to live in the new normal knowing that they are safe and secure ,” she said .
She said the sooner the country achieves herd immunity or has at least 70 percent of its population vaccinated , the faster it would be to return to normalcy .
“ Let not our fears of the unknown cripple us into inaction . Our retail industry frontliners have long been equally exposed to the virus but they have continued to serve the public . The vaccine will give us all a sense of strength that we now have a fighting chance to survive the pandemic and look to a more positive and hopeful future ,” she said .
Retailers express support to government vaccination drive
Amid vaccine hesitancy , both the government and the private sector are coming up with ways to boost confidence in the COVID-19 jabs . There is a proposal to have President Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo featured in an infomercial to encourage citizens to get vaccinated against COVID-19 . Earlier this year , the private sector launched a vaccine information and education campaign .
On the proposed use of vaccine passes to serve as proof of inoculation for individuals entering establishments , Ong said its implementation would be premature with the country still rolling out the vaccination program .
“ I think it ’ s premature to impose this and this is discriminatory especially for those who were not yet vaccinated either due to lack of supply or access ,” she said .
PRA – which is the national organization of retailers , shopping centers and suppliers – has over 400 members .
Source : PhilStar