Retailers urge gov’t to fix flooding

As most of its members were inundated by floodwaters during the recent onslaught of typhoons and the southwest monsoon (habagat), the newly minted president of the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) is calling on the government for concrete and effective solutions to address the recurring flooding crisis during the monsoon season.

In an interview during the National Retail Conference and Expo 2025 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay on Friday, PRA president and Golden ABC (Penshoppe) CEO Alice Liu said that despite strong sales in the first half of the year, most of their members suffered during the nine-day rainfall brought by Typhoons Carina, Dante, and Emong, along with the enhanced southwest monsoon.

“With the government’s aid, we will be able to fix disturbance issues, like flooding, which can affect our sales. Because customers, instead of having more money to buy other things from us, those budgets are spent on repairing the houses, recovery, etc.,” she said.

Liu said the good sales recorded by PRA members from January to June were wiped out by unexpected renovations of stores and factories, and the need to purchase new raw materials after their businesses were damaged by severe flooding.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address last Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. denounced corruption in flood control projects amid widespread flooding caused by the enhanced monsoon rains.

The President ordered an audit of flood control projects over the past three years and said the government would hold accountable those responsible for anomalous or non-existent projects.

“We’re hoping that when that’s fixed, the more inclement weather we are expecting the rest of the year, that solution would be able to provide more disposable money for our customers to spend on other things. We are hopeful, just like Filipinos that are generally optimistic amid the headwinds,” according to Liu.

Liu said they know what the problems are, which is why they are counting on the government to have the willpower to fix the flooding problem and prioritize the needs of Filipinos over personal interests.

“So, we hope that the message of the President will resonate already with those who need to get the job done. In our industry, we know that we need to work hand in hand with the government. We have to fix it together. At the same time, we are hopeful that his mandate will really be adhered to and we will see positive results soon,” Liu stressed.

Despite recent challenges, she said her group remains optimistic about achieving 15 percent growth in 2025.

DTI's commitment

Meanwhile, Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque reiterated the government’s support to revolutionize the Philippine retail landscape, emphasizing innovation and resilience as key drivers for industry growth.

As keynote speaker of the 31st NRCE, Roque said the DTI—under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.—is at the forefront of efforts to enhance the local and global competitiveness of Philippine industries.

"Our guiding principle has always been 'Negosyo para sa bawat Pilipino, trabaho para sa tao,’ ensuring every Filipino has the opportunity to prosper and contribute to the nation's progress,” Secretary Roque said.

Roque highlighted several initiatives aimed at empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including the establishment of over 1,400 Negosyo Centers nationwide and the expansion of the Philippine Business Hub’s online registration platform to streamline business processes.

The trade chief also mentioned that the Supply Chain and Logistics Center, slated to open this year, aims to reduce shipping costs across the Philippine archipelago.

To future-proof the industry’s workforce, Roque highlighted the recent launch of the ‘Section G Job Blueprint,’ an action plan designed to generate employment across the retail value chain—from local sari-sari stores to global logistics hubs.

Roque stressed that strengthening the retail industry has a direct impact on the nation as a whole.

“We always believe that when we empower retailers, we empower families; and when we empower families, we empower the nation. This is the very heart of our vision for a truly inclusive and thriving Philippines,” she affirmed.

With report by Raffy Ayeng