During the Celebration of Consumer Welfare Month with the theme, Consumer Protection: A Shared Responsibility, Department of Trade and Industry – Laguna Provincial Office (DTI – Laguna) conducted a DTI – Bagwis Seal of Excellence Awarding coincided with the 2016 Tanghalang Pangmamimili – Provincial Contest at the Cultural Center, Provincial Capitol Compound, Sta. Cruz, Laguna on October 7, 2016.
For this year, a total of 9 establishments were awarded with the DTI – Bagwis Seal of Excellence after having met the criteria set forth by DTI under the said program. The award is given to establishments that strictly adhere to various trade and industry laws, provide quality customer care to clients and maintain a DTI recognized consumer welfare desk (CWD) or customer service counter.
Of the 9 awardees three (3) were gold awardees namely Sanford Marketing Corp.- Banlic Branch, Sanford Marketing Corp.- Cabuyao Bayan Branch and Puregold Price Club Inc.- Pagsanjan Branch. Six (6) were silver awardees namely Puregold Price Club Inc.- Brgy I, Calamba City Branch, Puregold Price Club Inc- Halang Calamba Branch, Puregold Price Club Inc. Jr.- Canlubang Branch, Puregold Price Club Inc. Extra- Canlubang Branch, Puregold Price Club Inc. Jr.- Los Baños Branch, Puregold Price Club Inc. Extra- Los Baños Branch.
Furthermore, in line with the celebration of 10th Year of DTI – Bagwis Program formerly DTI – Certified Establishment Program, DTI – Laguna gave recognition and appreciation to the 2006 Bagwis Seal of Excellence Awardees of DTI- Laguna. Eight (8) establishments were given a Certificate of Recognition namely, Handyman Do It Best Center- Robinsons Los Baños, Handyman Do It Best Center- Robinsons Sta. Rosa, Handyman Do It Best Center- Waltermart Sta. Rosa, Abenson Ventures Inc.- San Pablo Branch, South Supermarket- Loss Baños Branch, Liana’s Supermarket- Calamba Branch and M&W Townstore Pila and Paete Branch.
The said program aims to give due recognition to establishments that uphold the rights of consumers and practice responsible business where consumers indeed get value for money. This also encourages the setting up of a sustainable Consumer Welfare Desk (CWD) or a DTI recognized customer service counter that will provide information to consumers and serves as mechanism for speedy resolution of consumer complaints.
Before the awarding, a brief Orientation Seminar on DTI – Bagwis Program was conducted. There were about four hundred (400) participants including the 2006 and 2016 DTI – Bagwis awardees, academes and students.
Mr. Christian Ted O. Tungohan, the Trade and Industry Development Specialist of DTI – Laguna and the one in-charge for the DTI – Bagwis Program in the province of Laguna gave an overview on the DTI – Bagwis Program. He stressed out that the main purpose of the program is to give due recognition to establishments that uphold the rights of consumers and practice responsible business where consumers indeed get value for money. It was highlighted that the Program encourages the setting up of a sustainable Consumer Welfare Desk (CWD) or a DTI – recognized customer service counter that will provide information to consumers and serves as mechanism for speedy resolution of consumer complaint.
DTI – Laguna Provincial Director Susan R. Palo reiterated during her opening message that as per this month’s theme of Consumer Welfare Month, consumer protection is not a sole responsibility of the government but also of the business establishments and consumers. She added that vigilant and well-informed consumers are the best protected consumers.