DTI 5 warns consumers against unsafe LPG tanks

LEGAZPI CITY, May 16 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bicol has constantly warned retailers and consumers on the hazards of fake liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks sold by retailers, including sari-sari stores.

DTI-5 regional director Jocelyn Blanco said that LPG users should be wary of tampered, leaking, rusty and illegally manufactured LPG tanks as it may cause loss of lives and property.

She said the DTI monitoring team has encountered several defective LPG tanks during inspection. These tanks are often repainted and bearing independently named LPG brands, which Blanco said are not the real brands of tanks that the Department of Energy (DOE) were actually produced.

Blanco advised consumers to check LPGs from markings on the tank collar, cylinder valve seals, visible brand name, smooth welded middle part of tanks and welded foot ring and tank collar.

She said common malpractices of LPG retailers include under-filling and selling below authorized limits, incorrect or no tare ware markings, dilapidated or poor quality of LPG cylinders, leaking or defective cylinders and illegally refilled cylinders.

LPG retailers were also warned of violations they may incur such as having no price display board, no weighing scale, no trade name, under-filled cylinders and hoarding of cylinders.

Retailers violating LPG standards may also be recommended for closure by the DTI or DOE to the local government. (MAL/PSD-OJT-BU/PIA5)


Phivolcs to augment instruments in Mayon

By Joseph John J. Perez

LEGAZPI CITY, May 16 (PIA) -- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) will be boosting their monitoring instruments in the vicinity of Mayon to further improve detection of volcanic activities.

“We already have several instruments at the (Mayon Volcano’s) base, but there is still a need to improve visualization of the geophysical and geodetical trending,” Phivolcs Resident Volcanologist Eduardo Laguerta said.

“There is not so much activity inside the volcano since 2012,” Laguerta said as he points that the instruments are consistently generating graphical outputs indicating that all parameters are not conclusive of any danger.

Based on the geophysical activities of Mayon, the magma movements are normal, Laguerta said.

“The gas output of Mayon is maintained within the normal values with its sulphur dioxide emissions ranging in normal production,” Laguerta said. “What happened on May 7 is normal,” he added.

Mayon, one of the world’s most active volcanoes had a phreatic explosion last May 7 that killed five mountaineers and injured eight others. A phreatic explosion happens if the hot rocks inside a volcano come in contact with a water system that will cause a steam pushing up to the crater and creating an ash cloud.

Reacting on a possibility of forthcoming major eruption next year based on an experience in the year 2008 that minor eruptions preceded a major eruption in 2009, Laguerta said, “Maybe not, maybe yes.”

“Small eruptions are hard to determine, alert levels are (used) for major eruptions,” Laguerta said. The permanent danger zone however must be observed strictly at all times, Laguerta added.

Mayon Volcano was in alert level zero when it spewed ash early last week.

“The six-kilometer permanent danger zone is based on Phivolcs’ geological study, Mayon’s morphology and its history of past eruptions,” Laguerta said.

“With its 2.5 kilometers height and 40 degrees slope, its steepness is prone to falling accidents and earthquakes will topple down rocks from its summit,” Laguerta said.

The aviation protocol must be strictly imposed also according to Laguerta. “Aircrafts must not pass through an ash cloud for it may cause plane crash,” he added.

The augmentation of instruments is not only necessary for present utilization but for future researches. “All these data can be used in the future and for future scientists for their studies,” Laguerta said. (MAL/JJJP-PIA5/Albay)


DTI Catanduanes garners excellent rating in CSC survey

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, May 16 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office here has earned an ‘excellent’ rating on the latest anti-red tape survey conducted by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

The survey was conducted last year by CSC on different government agencies offering front line services throughout the country.

The survey has gathered feedback on the effectiveness and compliance of government offices to the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA).

According to CSC’s 2012 Report Card Survey (RCS), 50 offices gained an ‘excellent’ rating with an equivalent score of 90 to 100. A total of 390 agencies were rated ‘good’ with an equivalent score of 80 to 89.99.

Meanwhile, 90 bureaus earned an ‘acceptable’ rating with a score ranging from 70 to 79.99 while 150 offices got a ‘failed’ rating with a score of below 70.

According to Hegino Baldano, DTI provincial director, they are grateful that their clients appreciate their efforts for continuous improvement of the services that they offer.

She said that they will continue to deliver the best for their clients adding that their latest achievement is for every Catandunganon.

Considered during the survey were the agencies’ physical working condition, front line service provider, service quality, and overall customer satisfaction.

Also included in the criteria were posting of Citizen’s Charter, posting of anti-fixers sign, manned-public assistance desk, observance of no noon break policy, no hidden fees in front line transactions, and wearing od IDs of front line personnel. (MAL/EAB-PIA5/Catanduanes)


DOT-5 holds tour guiding seminar to intensify tourism industry

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, May 16 (PIA) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT)-5 conducted a training-workshop on Basic Tourist Reception and Tour guide Techniques on May 2-4 in the said office.

The three-day free training-workshop was participated by 47 accredited participants from different tour agencies or operators in the Bicol region.

DOT-5 regional director Maria Ong-Ravanilla said, “We wanted to professionalize tour guiding and to equip practicing outdoor tourist guides in providing tourist, both foreign and domestic with quality services.”

“Equipped team of guides is expected to entice more tourists to continue visiting the different tourist destinations here that is why there is indeed a need to train them,” she said.

This is also a part of promoting specialized tour guiding for workers engaged in this field initiated by DOT-5. The training aims to participants to specialize in eco-tourism and action tourism.

Accredited trainer, Julius Cesar Q. Judalena from DOT Central office, lectured and trained the participants on being a tour guide such as knowledge of the different tourist destinations and other places in the region, its history, and culture; basic tour guiding skills; effective customer service and the duties and responsibilities of a tourist guide.

The participants underwent a final workshop on “Application of Tour Guiding Techniques” through a mock tour around selected places in the province on the third day before graduation.

Gigantore stressed that they are determined to raise the performance of frontliners in this region’s tourism industry into international standard for it to become more globally competitive. (MAL/MZEser-OJT-BU/PIA5)