This year’s UP Mindanao School of Management’s highly anticipated “SOM Week” officially kicked off Tuesday, 18 March 2025, at UP Mindanao, Mintal, Davao City—the week-long activity stretched from 18 March to 22 March 2025.
SOM Week 2025 activity was officially graced by a Policy Forum organized by the students from the Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Economics (BSAbE) entitled “Retail Food Industry: Prices, Practices, and Power” at the Lorenzo Hall of UP Mindanao’s Admin building. The activity explored the current landscape of the retail supermarket industry in the Philippines, focusing on market trends, challenges, and the growing dominance of large entities.
During the open forum, the event’s resource speaker, JS Gaisano Incorporated’s CEO and Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Incorporated’s Board Chairman Mr. John Y. Gaisano Jr., shared his expertise in the retail industry as he answered queries from students and faculty about matters related to the current status of the retail supermarket industry in the Philippines, the influence of the supermarket chains, pricing strategies, supplier negotiations, and challenges faced by local and international retailers. In his discussion, Mr. Gaisano emphasized the importance of supporting micro, small, and medium businesses in the local market to be able to help promote economic growth in the country.
Besides the UP Min’s BSABE students, the forum was also participated by students from the University of Southeastern Philippines and Ateneo de Davao University, and representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
SOM week is part of the school’s participation in celebrating UP Mindanao’s 3Oth founding anniversary.
Photos courtesy of the Public Relations Office.
