DTI Confiscates uncertified Christmas Lights

A total of 2, 368 uncertified Christmas lights were confiscated from eight establishments by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) during a monitoring and enforcement activity conducted on December 21, 2011 in Cebu City.

In line with its mandate, DTI Central Visayas (DTI-7) recently visited various commercial establishments in Cebu City that sell Christmas lights to check whether those being offered for sale bear the required identification and product markings.

“It is our responsibility to check whether Christmas lights sold in Cebu were manufactured according to standards. We coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to perform this task,” DTI 7 Regional Director Asteria Caberte said.

“From our rounds in Cebu City, we have observed that there are still business establishments in the city which continue to sell uncertified Christmas lights or  violate Department Administrative Order (DAO) 05:2008,” Caberte noted.

Under the DTI-Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) Product Certification Scheme that is based on the Department Administrative Order 05:2008: “all importers of Christmas lights shall secure an International Commodity Clearance (ICC) certificate, prior to the sale and distribution of their products in the local market. Only those whose products have successfully complied with the requirements based on the Philippine National Standard on Christmas lights (PNS 189:2000) are appropriately issued the ICC certificate and the ICC stickers should be affixed on each product covered by the specific or corresponding ICC.”

Caberte underscored that certified imported Christmas lights must bear the ICC mark to assure buyers a hazard-free holiday season.

DTI regulates the sale of Christmas lights in the local market to protect consumers from the hazards posed by uncertified and/or substandard products such as electric shock and overheating that often lead to fire, property damage, and even loss of lives.

Earlier, Caberte warned the public against fake and hazardous Christmas lights being sold in the market.  She advised the public to be vigilant and immediately report to the DTI those establishments selling uncertified and substandard products.

"We also regularly inform and campaign among establishments to only sell products that have passed the set standards because this is also for them. Through this information dissemination drive, we let them know that if a violation is committed, they have to pay fines and face some charges," Caberte said.

The list of DTI-Certified Christmas lights is available at www.bps.dti.gov.ph.




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DTI & Cebu-GTH launch Tindahang Pinoy

Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas will finally have a permanent outlet for the selling  of world class products as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Cebu Gifts, Toys and Housewares Foundation, Inc. (Cebu-GTH) launch the “Tindahang Pinoy.”

The Tindahang Pinoy will be launched on December 5, 2011, 3:00 p.m.,  at the Bridges Town Square in Mandaue City, Cebu to cater to local buyers and tourists.

According to DTI regional director Asteria Caberte, the Tindahang Pinoy is a microcosm of the Philippines since products which use high quality materials will come from all over the country.

Managed by the Cebu-GTH, the Tindahang Pinoy Cebu outlet will sell products of various micro, small and medium enterprises nationwide; while the DTI provides the suppliers and arranges the logistical requirements through third-party providers.

Products under the One Town, One Product program of the DTI will certainly be included, Caberte said. In fact, around 70% of products in the Tindahang Pinoy Cebu outlet will be sourced in Central Visayas, 30% in other regions in the Philippines, she added.

Initially, Tindahang Pinoy branches will be opened in Cebu, Clark and Davao.

To aggressively promote the Tindahang Pinoy to tourists, the DTI plans to work closely with the Department of Tourism (DOT), hotels and tour operators.

The Cebu-GTH is a non-stock, non-profit organization of exporters that provides services for the development of the sector with members producing home accessories, housewares, decors and furnishings. 

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P1 handicraft wins Best Seller Award in OTOP Philippines Trade Expo

Loomwoven items of Bohol won the Best Selling Product Award during the recently concluded OTOP (One Town, One Product) National Expo 2011 held from September 21 to 25 at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

P1 Handicrafts, a manufacturer of loomwoven raffia rolls, placemats, table runners and coasters, had the highest product sales during the first OTOP National Expo.

Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the trade fair garnered sales and booked orders of around Php 44, 852,407.

Central Visayas which sold food and non-food items during the fair recorded sales and booked orders of Php 9,727,864 at the end of the five-day national event.

Boholano traders reported total sales of Php 8, 659,928 while Cebu was Php 1,067,936.

Region 7 participants included: Carcar United Footwear Manufacturers Association, Inc., Elda Sheels Trading, Ferangeli Guitar & Handcrafters, Gloanse  Enterprises, Hannah’s Handicraft, Maexel Chi-cha Bites &  Snack Food, Michael's Concepts Int'l., Lola Pureza’s Inc., Tubigon Loomweavers MPC and P1 Handicrafts.

The OTOP National Expo brought to local buyers at least 72 provinces from all over the country in a grand showcase of purely Philippine-made products.

Various delicacies, fashionable bags, unique handcraft, accessories, fresh and processed foods, health and wellness products, among others, were on sale during the fair aimed at highlighting the best of every town in the country.

According to DTI, the products under the OTOP banner were created through the skill, knowledge, and labor of local folk, and were sourced from indigenous materials.

DTI pointed out that the OTOP national expo is a convergence of the OTOP Island fairs conducted during the last three years in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. This also marked the re-launch of another five years of the OTOP program which started in 2005 and ended last year.

DTI said that the next five years of the OTOP program will be more productive with the introduction of the Tindahang Pinoy project.

The Tindahang Pinoy was created for the private sector SMEs to own and manage, while the government provides a partial subsidy.

DTI will also provide a network of producers for the supplies to be easily accessed. The Tindahang Pinoy will sell items which are 70 percent produced locally and 30 percent from outside the region.

Modeled after Japan’s “One Village, One Product” project, the OTOP program was initiated by the Philippine government in late 2004 to stimulate economic development in the countryside and expand trade of products that banner the unique culture and tradition of a locality.

This project aims to promote entrepreneurship and job creation. It offers a convergence of assistance from the DTI, local government units, the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DoST), Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the private sector.

Flagship industries were introduced by DTI as an innovation to tap a bigger market for existing OTOP SMEs and to improve their sustainability as they try to join the industry mainstream. These include Project Bayong, SPIN (Sub-contracting Innovation Partners) Program, Microwaveable Saba Banana, Bamboo, Water Hyacinth, Veggie Noodles, Fish Fillet (Pangasius), and Virtual Poultry Farming.



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DTI invites public to hearing on the revised BMBE Act of 2002

The Department of Trade and Industry Central Visayas Office (DTI 7) is inviting the public to attend a consultation on the proposed amendments to the BMBE law or Barangay Micro-Business Enterprises Act of 2002.

The public hearing will be held at 9:00 in the morning on September 23, 2011 (Friday) at the Social Hall of the Cebu Provincial Capitol, Osmena Boulevard. Cebu City

According to DTI, the BMBE integrates micro-business enterprises in the informal sector to the mainstream economy and small businessmen may avail of exemption from income tax payments, one of the perks the BMBE law provides.

Also known as Republic Act 9178, the BMBE law offers micro enterprises in barangays incentives, such as exemption from minimum wage coverage, technical assistance from DTI, TESDA, TLRC and other government agencies and credit assistance from Land Bank, Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System and other government financial institutions.

The DTI said that the BMBE law will also help expand the tax base of local government units: the more people go into business the bigger number of taxpayers.

Persons or groups interested to know more on the BMBE Public Hearing may call Mr. Cesar Antoni of SB Corporation at tel nos. 234-4500  / 232-1200 or Ms. Vicki Diaz of DTI-7 at tel. no. 255-0036 loc. 601 


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DTI invites stakeholders to UNIDO Meeting on P-Trace

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)  is inviting stakeholders to  a meeting  sponsored by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) called the “Philippine Traceability of Agro-Industrial Products for the European Market (P-Trace)” Project forum on September 22, 2011 (Thursday).

The traceability system in the Philippines is deemed important to be installed in the agricultural sector as international markets are requiring such system. Recently, the absence of or inadequacy of traceability system caused the recall of some products due to issues pertaining the use of wrong pesticides.

Replicating the TRACE System in the Philippines is a necessary path to take in order to increase competitiveness of Philippine crops in the international market.

In the course of preparatory work for the “Philippine Traceability of Agro-Industrial Products for the European Market (P-Trace)” Project, the UNIDO will consult with local  stakeholders so that they will be able to deliver their immediate goal – the development of an inclusive pro-poor supply chain and traceability system for the country

For more information on the UNIDO meeting, concerned parties may contact Ms. Mimi Yap of DTI-7 at tel. no. 255-0036 loc. 301.

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DTI announces BN Public Consultation in Cebu on Sept. 6

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announces that public consultation in Cebu for the Department Administrative Order (DAO) amending the revised implementing rules and regulations of the Business Name Law will be held on September 6, 2011, 1:30 p.m., at the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry building, J. Lorente Street, Cebu City, near Chong Hua Medical Arts.

                           
According to the DTI, the purpose of the public consultation is to get comments from stakeholders with regards to the proposed DAO that will further amend the implementing rules and regulations of the BN law.

Among the salient points in the proposed DAO is the automatic revocation of the business name registration if the registrant fails to show proof of operation within six (6) months from the date of registration.

All stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the public consultation. Participation is free of charge.

For more information on the BN Public Consultation in Cebu, interested parties may call DTI staff Grace Durano at tel no. 255-0036 local 209.

A copy of  DAO 10-01 s 2010 may be accessed at www.dti.gov.ph.



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DTI launches CIAP Window in Cebu

The Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP), in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry Central Visayas Regional Office (DTI 7) and the Philippine Constructors Association Inc. (PCA), formally launches the CIAP Window in Central Visayas on September 1, 2011, 10:00 a.m., at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel to enhance the access and delivery of its major services for the construction sector in the region.

DTI states, “The newly opened CIAP Window at the DTI 7 Regional Office in Cebu City accepts and processes the following services namely, a) contractors licensing and registration; b) registration of overseas contractors; c) contract dispute resolution; and d) contractors performance evaluation system.”

“The opening of a CIAP Window in the region is part of the decentralization of CIAP services.  With the CIAP Window, clients need not travel to Manila to secure a license or registration necessary in the construction business, thus, saving time and reducing the cost of doing business.” stresses DTI.

The CIAP Window makes available the major services of CIAP particularly the prescreening and evaluation of application for contractor’s license, and the new and renewal registration applications as well as Authority to Bid for overseas contractors.  It also accepts construction contract claims/ disputes for arbitration or mediation and provides coordination support during hearings, and orientation on mediation for small claims.  Moreover, it offers Contractors Performance Evaluation System to help ensure efficiency, quality and safety in government construction projects.

The CIAP window enables practitioners/ contractors of the construction industry in Central Visayas to easily avail of CIAP services.  This program eliminates fixers, reduces red tape and lets them save considerable expenses and trouble of traveling to Metro Manila.

CIAP is an attached agency of DTI that acts as the central policy-making and coordinative body for the over-all planning and development of the construction industry. It has four (4) implementing arms namely the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), which issues contractor’s license; the Philippine Overseas Construction Board (POCB), which develops, promotes and regulates activities of the construction industry overseas; the Philippine Domestic Construction Board (PDCB), which formulates and implements policies and programs for efficient contract implementation of domestic infrastructure projects;  and the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission (CIAC), which is a quasi-judicial body tasked to ensure speedy and equitable resolution of construction disputes.



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