The Department of Trade and Industry will once again lead the nation in celebrating the 2016 World Standards Day (WSD) with the theme “Standards Build Trust.”
The World Standards Day celebrated every 14th of October and now on its 47th year, is an annual event that recognizes the commitment and dedication of individuals who work hand in hand in the conceptualization and development of a document established by consensus and approved by a recognized body commonly referred to as standard.
And as the Philippines’ National Standards Body, the DTI-Bureau of Philippines Standards (DTI-BPS) celebrates the WSD through the National Standards Week (NSW) with a series of activities aimed at raising the level of awareness of the importance of standardization to the economy and its vital role in meeting the needs of business, government and consumers.
“The celebration of the World Standards Day and the 42nd National Standards Week not only shows our appreciation to experts who dedicate their time and expertise to develop standards but to remind everyone that standards form the backbone of technologies that contribute to the overall reliability and effectiveness of goods and services. The DTI-BPS continues to highlight the importance of standards in creating an environment that would spawn innovation and improve the competitiveness of MSMEs resulting to enhanced market access”, DTI-BPS Director-in-Charge Ann Claire C. Cabochan states.
For the third time, the DTI-BPS hosts the Certified Products’ market in the “Diskwento Caravan- Consumer Welfare Month (CWM) Edition” set up along in front of the DTI Trade and Industry Building at 361 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City from 12 to 14 October 2016. The mini-market will feature products under basic necessities and prime commodities, and certified products with the Philippine Standard (PS) and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) marks such as Christmas lights, home appliances, wiring devices, and, motorcycle helmets, at discounted prices.
The three-day market aims to make available to consumers the commonly used certified critical products at home as well as those products that are purchased daily at prices with discounts up to 50%. The activity will also serve as a reminder to the general public the importance of checking the PS and ICC marks prior to their purchase of the said products.
In an effort to get a better understanding of the standards, the DTI-BPS conducts a forum on Standards and Regulations focusing on Construction Materials on 19 October 2016 at the AVR Penthouse in the 6F of the Trade and Investments Building, 385 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City. The DTI-BPS also conducts the “Leveraging on the World Trade Organization – Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO-TBT) Agreement Empowering MSMEs. Further, the Bureau sets the BPS Technical Forum on 11 November 2016 in the Tent Hall 2 of the Midas Hotel in Pasay City, to recognize the contributions of the individuals and groups that are in the national standards development programs.
These fora, intended for government agencies, consumer organizations, industry associations, and, academic and testing institutions, aim to assemble the BPS stakeholders and provide them updates on international standardization programs and to strengthen ties with them to further heighten their support and cooperation in improving the country’s standards structure.
“Standardization is an essential pillar in a country’s National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) and the Department has doubled its efforts in formalizing the NQI functions of the DTI’s offices of Standardization and Accreditation, and the Department of Science and Technology’s National Metrology Laboratory that will be responsible in ensuring national quality standards, policies, agreements, test procedures and personnel, measurements, certificates, and, test reports. The cooperation of the various sectors of the government, industry, academe, testing institution, and consumer, is vital in passing the NQI bill that is currently with Congress for discussions”, DTI-Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG) Undersecretary Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua emphasizes.
Undersecretary Pascua adds, “The celebration of the National Standards Week is a way of bringing together all the stakeholders in realizing the country’s quality infrastructure”.
As part of the NSW celebration, the DTI-BPS holds the 6th Essay Writing Contest for secondary level students of public schools in NCR on 04 November 2016 at the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave. corner Roxas Blvd. Pasay City to heighten the understanding of the youth on the significance of standards in their daily lives. As the country’s future drivers, the DTI-BPS recognizes the need to increase their awareness of consumer rights and responsibilities, performance of safety and products and services, based on the Philippine National Standards (PNS) and other relevant issues they encounter daily.
In addition to the essay writing contest, the DTI-BPS sets to conduct the 3rd Broadcasting Seminar to equip consumers the necessary tools in reporting consumer concerns in their areas. In partnership with ABSCBN’s flagship radio station DzMM through the DTI’s Konsyumer At Iba Pa (KATBP) radio program, loyal KATBP listeners and selected participants will experience first-hand how Radyo Patrol Reporters deliver their news stories.
“The DTI-BPS has been guided with the slogan, ‘Starting Them Young,’ believing that the empowered Filipino youth on the value of standards will result to quality and safety-conscious generations,” Atty. Cabochan added.
The BPS, established by the Republic Act No. 4109 and Executive Order No. 133, spearheads the NSW celebration for the public to be more aware of how standards can assist them in exercising their rights and responsibilities as consumers.
For more information on the 42nd National Standards Week and to participate in the said activities, call the DTI- BPS at 751.4740/48 or visit www.bps.dti.gov.ph