DTI Albay intensifies consumer protection drive

LEGAZPI CITY, April 17 (PIA) -- About twenty establishments in the province of Albay has been formally charged by the Department of Trade in Industry in 2011 as part of their intensified consumer protection drive in the region, with imposed administrative fine summing up to P137, 379.00.

Rodrigo M. Aguilar, DTI Provincial Director confirmed that the said enforcement is the result of their intensive monitoring activities to ensure the the general welfare of the consumer is properly taken cared of.

Among the 20 firms charged, eight were found to have violated Laws on Standards which also comprised 72% of the total P 137, 379.00 imposed fine. The same number violated the Accreditation Law with 10% share from the imposed fine, three for Price Tag Law with 11% and one for the Consumer Act with 7%.

Compared to the previous years the number of firms charged for 2011 decreased which according to Aguilar is due to the regular conduct of Fair Trade Law Seminars for businessman as part of their consumer welfare advocacy program.

DTI Albay has conducted four seminars in 2011 participated by owners of various establishments in the province especially those selling products covered under mandatory standards such as the Standards Law and the Accreditation Law. (MAL/SAA, PIA V/Albay)

Albay Prov’l Gov’t strengthens partnership with 4P’s co-implementors

LEGAZPI CITY, April 17 (PIA) -- The Provincial government of Albay initiated a consultation dialogue with the program’s municipal links and co-implementors of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program held recently in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here.

DSWD Regional Director Remia Tapispisan said the initiative will further strengthen the partnership between the DSWD and the provincial government and identify problems and concerns encountered by the Municipal Links and co-implementors to come up with effective strategies on how to systematically respond and address such problems.

The discussion for the consultation focused on implementation updates of the 4Ps, exit strategy of the program in the municipality of Libon as the set 1 area, and level of beneficiaries’ well-being.

“The activity had given faces as well as recognition to the workers of Pantawid Pamilya on the ground, it was also an opportunity for the city and municipal links to express to the governor the support they need from the province,” Tapispisan added.

Of the 320 city and municipal links regionwide, 37 were deployed in the province of Albay.

In turn, Gov. Joey Salceda committed to continuously support the implementation of the program including providing an office space for the program’s Provincial Operations Office at the Provincial Capitol Building.

He likewise appealed to DSWD the inclusion of added 14,000 Albayanos in the program, stressing the positive response of the Bicolanos to the said program.

To date, Pantawid Pamilya has been serving 309, 474 household beneficiaries from all cities and municipalities in the Bicol region with 31,396 from Albay.

Municipal Links are DSWD hired staff deployed to the different areas covered by the program. They are responsible in ensuring that the program is implemented in accordance with its guidelines, policies and objectives. (MAL/SAA, PIA V/Albay)