Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) engaged in a Seminar-Workshop on Creative and Effective Selling Techniques (CEST) at University of the Philippines – Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP-ISSI), Diliman, Quezon City, on October 14 to 18, 2024. 

The week-long seminar-workshop aims to apply the communication tools needed to effectively win customers, identify the innovative marketing techniques to ultimately improve overall sales performance, determine the different selling approaches in generating repeat and bigger sales orders through good understanding of after-sales service, apply practical insights in the art of marketing either as a career or simply gain a strong foothold on the dynamics of salesmanship, and prepare a marketing plan.

Mr. Gerard Joseph B. Alava, a professor at the Virata School of Business in UP Diliman, served as the resource person of the workshop. Among the topics he discussed in the workshop are: the selling process, approach to effective selling, best practices in handling objections, best practice in closing the sale, and how to prepare a sales plan. 

“Understand who you are,” Mr. Alava said, encouraging the participants to believe in the PFDA brand to properly sell the products and services of the Agency.

The first batch of CEST was participated by thirty-five (35) personnel from PFDA - Central Office, PFDA - Navotas Fish Port Complex, PFDA - Lucena Fish Port Complex, PFDA - Bulan Fish Port Complex, PFDA - Camaligan Fish Port, and PFDA - Sual Fish Port.

The seminar-workshop was organized by the PFDA Administrative Services Department – Human Resources Division (ASD-HRD), in partnership with the UP-ISSI.

(Mark Angelo N. Perez and Robert Gregory Elardo - Public Information Division with report and photos from Mary Anne Kristine R. Ramos - ASD-HRD)