Sunday, October 27, 2013

Schedule of Diskwento Caravans for calamity areas in Bohol



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Friday, October 25, 2013

DTI organizes Diskwento Caravans for calamity areas in Bohol



In an effort to bring prime commodities and basic necessities at discounted prices to consumers in Bohol, particularly in areas affected by the earthquake, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is holding a series of Diskwento Caravans.

DTI will coordinate closely with the Provincial Price Coordinating Council (PPCC) and Local Government Units (LGUs) in holding the Diskwento Caravan in Antequera on October 27 (Sunday) , in Maribojoc on October 29  (Tuesday) and Tubigon on Oct. 31.

Yesterday, Oct. 24, DTI conducted a Diskwento Caravan in Loon, Bohol.

Products featured in the Diskwento Caravans in Bohol include canned goods,  bath soaps, shampoos, coffee, milk, noodles, rice, biscuits, eggs,  bread, dressed chicken, , bottled water,  and cleansing agents, among others.. 

The Alturas Group of Companies, Bohol Quality Corporation and AH Shoppers’ Mart, Gardenia Bakeries Phils. Inc. are some of the participating retailers while the National Food Authority (NFA) will be there to sell NFA rice to consumers.

DTI-
Central Visayas Regional Director  Asteria Caberte underscores that the DTI  conducts Diskwento Caravans in Bohol to ensure that local consumers will have access to essential goods in the midst of the crisis they are facing.

The Diskwento Caravan is a project of the DTI where basic necessities and prime commodities are sold at discounted prices. The project upholds the right of consumers to have access to basic goods, especially those belonging in marginalized communities.

Aside from Diskwento Caravans, DTI also monitored the supply and prices of basic and prime commodities.

As of Monday, October 21, the DTI’s price and supply monitoring teams have visited and checked 236 wet markets, supermarkets, and retail stores in the affected provinces and cities of Bohol and Cebu, which are earthquake-stricken areas under state of calamity.

DTI-Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Group (CWBRG) Officer-in-Charge Atty. Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba asserts, “Through the DTI’s Central Visayas regional office and provincial offices of Bohol and Cebu, several teams simultaneously monitored retail stores and establishments of basic necessities to ensure that there is adequate supply of said products and are available for sale to affected consumers”.

“Equally important, the Department also verified from the retailers that they are selling these basic goods according to the list of prevailing prices that was released last Friday, 18 October 3013, which protects the affected consumers from businesses that take advantage of these unfortunate situations”, OIC Dimagiba points out.

Since the onslaught of the 7.2 Richter scale earthquake in Bohol, the DTI regional office of Central Visayas and its provinces were directed to closely monitor the price and supply of establishments distributing basic goods in affected areas.

Bohol and Cebu have been declared under state of calamity through provincial board resolutions. A provincial board or a local government unit declares its area under state of calamity when necessary. Section 6 of the Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act specifies that when an area was proclaimed or declared a disaster area or under a state of calamity, prices of basic necessities in an area shall automatically be frozen at their prevailing prices or placed under automatic price control.

DTI-Region VII (Central Visayas) Regional Director Asteria C. Caberte explains, “The DTI teams in Central Visayas have intensified their efforts in inspecting affected areas and in checking the wet markets, supermarkets and other retailers that sell products that are commonly used by the public at this time”.

The DTI-Cebu teams monitored the establishments in the five (5) cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapulapu, Danao and Talisay; and in the seven (7) municipalities of Consolacion, Compostela, Liloan, Carmen, Catmon, Naga, and Minglanilla. Similarly, the DTI-Bohol checked the retailers in Tagbiliran City and its 28 municipalities of Clarin, Cortes, Catigbian, Alburquerque, Ubay, San Miguel, Talibon, Sevilla, Batuan, Bilar; Carmen, Corella, Balilihan, Sikatuna, Dagohoy, Getafe, Trinidad, Loboc, Loon, Maribojoc, San Isidro, Calape, Buenavista, Inabanga, Tubigon, Baclayon, Sagbayan, and, Antequera.

Regional Director Caberte specifies, “We did check the prices and supplies of basic goods in 236 outlets. From this exercise, we found 30 retailers – six (6) retail establishments and 24 retail stores – that are selling more than the dictated prices of basic necessities should have and as such, we have issued them their notices of violation that summon each one of them to explain why they were selling much more than the set prevailing prices”.

“ These 30 establishments shall undergo due process and  DTI CWBRG will provide the necessary assistance to DTI-Central Visayas by sending mediation/ adjudication officers to handle the cases. In this case, the DTI-Central Visayas can focus in monitoring the market and in enforcing the set prevailing prices for basic necessities”, OIC Dimagiba points out.

In Section 5 of the Price Act, profiteering is one of the illegal acts of price manipulation. It provides that an administrative fine of up to One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) and/ or a maximum of 10-year imprisonment shall be imposed for violation of Price Control or the price freeze.
Atty. Dimagiba emphasizes that the DTI’s regional and provincial offices are working hand in hand with the local government units and other offices through the Local Price Coordinating Councils or LPCCs.

The Price Act lists the basic necessities assigned to DTI – canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread, and, salt; assigned to the Department of Agriculture (DA) – rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh eggs, fresh pork/ beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, fresh/ dried and other marine products; assigned to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – firewood and charcoal; and, the Department of Health (DOH) – drugs classified as essential by DOH.

The DTI, as chairperson of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC), coordinates with its members from government and private sectors, to cooperate with one another during natural disasters and emergencies.


The DTI published the list of prevailing prices under price freeze in the provinces of Bohol and Cebu last 18 October 2013 in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, and The Freeman (Bohol and Cebu); last 19 October 2013 in Sun Star Cebu and Cebu Daily News; and yesterday, 20 October 2013 in The Bohol Chronicle.


For more information on the Diskwento Caravan and  update on price and supply of basic and prime commodities in Bohol and Cebu,  interested parties may contact the following telephone numbers: DTI-BTRCP 751.3233; DTI-Region VII (032) 255.0036/ 255.0037; DTI-Bohol (038) 501.8260;; DTI Cebu (032) 255-3926 and (032) 255-6971.
 
(end)

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Thursday, October 24, 2013

DTI conducts Diskwento Caravan in Loon, Bohol today, Oct. 24

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducts Diskwento Caravan today, October 24, in Loon, Bohol near the municipal public market. The Department holds this activity for the victims of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the province. The DTI, through the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP), immediately invited manufacturers and retailers of basic necessities and prime commodities to join in the activity.

Products to be featured in the caravan include canned goods, laundry soaps, bath soaps, shampoos, coffee, creamers, milk, noodles, rice, biscuits, eggs, dressed chicken and cleansing agents. The Alturas Group of Companies, Bohol Quality Corporation and AH Shoppers’ Mart are some of the participating retailers while the National Food Authority (NFA) will be there to sell NFA rice to consumers.

DTI-Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Group (CWBRG) Officer-in-Charge and Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP) Director Atty. Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba underscores, “It is important for the DTI to conduct Diskwento Caravan in Bohol in view of the calamity that hit the province. The Department ensures that their local consumers will have access to essential goods in the midst of the crisis they are facing.”

“Local suppliers in Region VII are very supportive of DTI’s initiatives. They assured us that they will join in the conduct of Diskwento Caravan in Bohol,” DTI-Region VII (Central Visayas) Regional Director Asteria C. Caberte adds.

In addition to today’s Diskwento Caravan in Loon, it will also be conducted in Antequera on October 27 (Sunday) and Maribojoc on October 29 (Tuesday).

The Diskwento Caravan is a project of the DTI where basic necessities and prime commodities are sold at discounted prices. The project upholds the right of consumers to have access to basic goods, especially those belonging in marginalized communities. Moreover, it motivates the business sector to participate in the programs of the government and support its advocacies.

For more information on the Diskwento Caravan, you may contact the following telephone numbers: DTI-BTRCP 751.3233; DTI-Region VII (032) 255.0036/ 255.0037; and DTI-Bohol (038) 501.8260. (end)



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Thursday, October 17, 2013

DTI Cebu releases report on emergency price and supply monitoring of basic and prime commodities

Supply of basic and prime commodities in Cebu are adequate and prices of commodities are stable and within the suggested retail prices given by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), DTI Cebu provincial director Nelia Navarro announced today.

Recently, the Department of Trade and Industry Cebu Provincial Office released a summary report to the media on the results of the special price monitoring and supply situation the office conducted after the earthquake that hit the Visayas.

Monitored yesterday (Oct. 16) were a list of establishments and wet markets totaling 60. These included those found in Cebu City (23 establishments and 1 wet market), Mandaue City (12 establishments and 1 wet market), Lapulapu (11 and 1 wet ), Minglanilla (6 and 1 wet), Consolacion and Danao City areas (4 establishments).

In establishments that have opened last October 16, long lines of consumers were observed in the early morning due to closure of most stores and malls because of the earthquake.

The 11 price monitoring teams of DTI-Cebu were distributed as follows: Cebu City (4 teams), Mandaue City (3 teams), Lapulapu City (2 teams, Minglanilla (1 team), Consolacion / Danao City (1 team).

For inquiries on prevailing prices of basic and prime commodities, consumers may call Gladys Oro of DTI Cebu at the NERBAC Cebu telephone nos. (032) 255-3926 and (032) 255-6971.



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DTI Cebu staff temporarily relocates to NERBAC

Due to an earthquake which struck Cebu this week and badly damaged the office, the Department of Trade and Industry Cebu Provincial Office (DTI-CPO) has decided to relocate to ensure uninterrupted service for its clients.
DTI-Cebu employees are temporarily housed at the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) along Lapulapu Street, Cebu City.


DTI Cebu may be reached at the following NERBAC Cebu telephone numbers:
(032) 255-3926  and (032) 255-6971.


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Wednesday, October 16, 2013

DTI-Cebu conducts emergency price monitoring and evaluation of supply situation

A day after an earthquake struck Cebu last Tuesday, Oct. 15, the Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Office conducted an emergency monitoring of supply and prices of basic and prime commodities.

In conducting the price monitoring, DTI provincial director Nelia Navarro said that representatives of the department personally checked various establishments and inspected the price rates of retailers.
The recent evaluation was then compared in the price monitoring reports three months before the calamity struck.
Navarro said that around 11 teams have been deployed by DTI in Cebu to monitor everyday prices and supply of basic and prime commodities.
Once it is proven that a particular establishment has increased its price list, DTI shall call the attention of the owner who will then be asked for an explanation why the price increase was synchronized with the calamity, Navarro explained.
The trade department also analyzed the supply situation of basic and prime commodities in Cebu. said that around 11 teams have been deployed by DTI in Cebu to monitor everyday
DTI Cebu staff checked whether there are instances of panic buying and ensured that there is sufficient supply of basic and prime commodities.

Navarro requests the consumers to report to NERBAC Cebu office at (032) 255-3926 or (032) 255-6971 any  price increases made by unscrupulous retailers or shortage in supply of commodities.

To recall, Cebu, along with Bohol, has been declared under a state of calamity. This declaration automatically freezes the prices of basic and prime commodities. (ends)
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Monday, October 14, 2013

DTI 7 celebrates Consumer Welfare Month and National Standards Week in October

The Department of Trade and Industry Central Visayas Regional and Provincial Offices join Filipino consumers in the Philippines in celebrating the Consumer Welfare Month and the National Standards Week (NSW) in 2013.

This year’s Consumer Month will be filled with consumer welfare related activities such as seminars that disseminate information on Consumer rights and responsibilities, monitoring activities on price and price tag, as well as product standard monitoring activities.

Recently, the Consumer Watch-Bohol, Inc. (CWBI) in coordination with the Department of Trade and Trade (DTI), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Provincial Government of Bohol, and LGU- Tagbilaran City organized the Bohol Youth Consumer Summit 2013 at Dao Diamond Hotel, Dao Distrcit, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. The activity was participated by students from five (5) Colleges in Bohol.

The DTI information campaign is vital to inform and update the public of their rights and for businesses to understand their responsibilities to their consumers as prescribed under the Consumer Act.

In flood hit areas of Negros Oriental, the Department of Trade and Industry Negros Oriental Provincial Office (DTI-NOPO) continues to monitor prices of basic goods and prime commodities.

Last week, DTI NOPO led members of the Center for Consumer Welfare (CCW) in the inspection of business establishments in Siaton, Sta. Catalina and Basay towns and in Bayawan City.

The four areas were badly hit by floods when several major rivers overflowed because of continuous heavy rains for about three days.

DTI NOPO will continue to conduct price monitoring of basic and prime commodities daily for a week in coordination with the CCW to prevent stores from taking advantage of the disaster.

DTI and its partners monitor establishments to ensure stability of prices of prime and basic commodities. It is also meant to remind the public of its role to be vigilant and check the products they are buying.

The Consumer Welfare Month (CWM) is celebrated every October in compliance with Presidential Proclamation No. 1098.  During the Consumer Month, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reiterates its commitment to reinforce its services, programs and activities to protect the interests of consumers with the continued assistance of Philippine industries.

Proclamation 1327 was declared on October 03, 1975 for the Philippines to annually celebrate the NSW from October 08-14 through the DTI-Bureau of Product Standards as the National Standards Body (NSB) in connection to the WSD and due to the great impact of standardization activities to the accelerating economic growth. Since then, the weeklong event is being observed yearly to instill and highlight the importance of standards to Philippine consumers and industries.


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