DTI CONDUCTS PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE GRANT OF BAGWIS AWARD

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently conducted a public consultation/ on the “Draft Department Administrative Order (DAO) on the “Implementing Guidelines on the grant of BAGWIS AWARD to business establishments that uphold consumers’ rights“ at the Bayfront Hotel in Cebu City.

The public hearing was participated by retailers and representatives of business establishments in the Visayas (Regions 6, 7, 8 and 9).
Bagwis Award is a recognition program for business establishments that engage in fair trade business ethics and uphold consumers’ interest by embedding consumer protection at the core of their business operations.

The award covers business establishments under the following categories: Supermarkets, Department Stores, Appliance Centers and DTI Accredited Service and Repair Shops.

With the Bagwis program, DTI aims to foster balance between engaging in business and safeguarding the welfare of consumers and promotes a healthy competition among establishments to ensure that the welfare of consumers is constantly safeguarded.

DTI has placed considerable effort to campaign for more establishments to be accredited in this program to apply as this promotes business while protecting the welfare of consumers.

Business establishments have been encouraged by the department to improve their services to clients and consumers each year. DTI has encouraged the Bronze awardees to upgrade to silver or gold awards and urged more establishments to strictly comply with consumer laws and improve on their customer care to qualify for the awards.

A draft of the DAO can be downloaded at the DTI website, www.dti.gov.ph.
Written endorsement/ position/ comments on the DAO may be submitted to the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB) c/o Assistant Director Lilian G. Salonga at the Trade and Industry Building, 361 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, 1200 Makati City or through email address CPAB@dti.gov.ph at any time before the date of hearing indicated.

For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph

Bohol Bike for peace, Visayas first during PNP Taliños term

TAGBILARAN CITY, May 9, (PIA)–It may have happened before, but the recent Bike for Peace activities organized by the Philippine National Police Regional Office 7 in Bohol is the first among the upcoming events, announced Police regional Chief PCSuperintendent Noli Taliño in Panglao.

General Taliño, who did not fail to mention the beautiful and scenic 18 kilometer route from Camp Dagohoy to Panglao passing through the Dauis causeway, said the Police Regional Office thought of the ride as the police little help to assure tourists that it is safe to live, roam around and do business in Bohol.

Taliño led the PRO Officials including deputy regional director for administration PCSupt Franklin Moises Mabanag, PSupt Clarito Baja, Bohol Police Chief PSSupt Felipe Natividad, and his officials in the 20 kilometer ride that pedaled off from Camp Dagohoy, to Panglao Plaza, then to Alona before going back to the Plaza for a short program.

From here, we might do the same to other nearby provinces, he added.

The group arrived to a zumba dance session with Panglao local officials leading the early morning stretch.

Later, PCSupt Talino moved off and led the police bikers in the zumba until the program started.

Also in the ride pack were police officers and men from the regional office, police officer bikers from the towns, bike groups from Baclayon, Alburquerque, Bike Kings, Bike ta Bai, Bol-anon Cyclists, Cortes bikers, Antequera BeerBogs, Maribojoc, Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Information Agency, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Capitol Bikers, Dauis and Panglao bikers.

“We wanted to get to Alona because we want to show to the tourists that it is completely safe to go to Panglao, and to Anda,” Taliño who earlier talked to the national media with his Met bike helmet still on, said.

We are picking Panglao and Anda, two of Bohol’s famous beach destinations frequented by foreigners, he said even as 10 of the 12 members of the Abu Sayyaf bandits that stealthily arrived in Bohol have been killed in relentless government operations since April 11.

The arrival of the bandits and their notorious ways of kidnapping for ransom and bombing soft targets have forced foreign embassies to issue travel advisories in the Visayas and southern Philippines.

By May 10, the Bike groups move to Jagna for another round of bike rides for peace, Taliño appraised everyone, which included bike groups and healthy lifestyle enthusiasts gathered at the plaza.

The second bike ride for peace in Bohol pushes off from the Insular plaza in Jagna and takes the Bohol belt highway to Guindulman before turning right to the tourism destination called Anda, 36 kilometers away.

The PRO and the Bohol Provincial Police Office has invited nearby police stations and the community in Anda to gather at the Quinale to be there at the briefings that happen as the bikers arrive.

In the menu are briefings on terrorism, anti crime and other relevant topics that would affect that part of Bohol, according to SPO1 Jennifer Atanacio.

Atanacio, former Camp Dagohoy Information Officer said they have prepared a transport for bikers and bikes from Camp Dagohoy to Jagna and back to Tagbilaran, for those joining the events. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

General Taliño explains the rationale behind the Bike for Peace which the PRO brings to Panglao and Anda in Bohol May 9-10. The first ride for peace under his term, the Bike for Peace would also be done in other Central Visayan provinces, Taliño said. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

‘Political willingness’ a must: trade chief on concluding RCEP

 

Calls on negotiators to find ways to solve pending issues

 

MANILA—All 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) and the six Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners should show “political willingness to move the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) forward,” the country’s trade chief asserted.

 

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said that political determination of all 16 RCEP participating countries is most crucial in pushing for the substantial conclusion of RCEP, following 17 rounds of negotiations since 2012.

 

China, Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India are the six FTA partners of the 10 AMS Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and the Philippines.

 

Speaking at the opening of the 18th RCEP Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) Meeting and Related Meetings on 8 May, Sec. Lopez, as chair of ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Meeting, enjoined lead negotiators to “find solutions to all remaining challenges” that hinder RCEP conclusion.

 

“We want to find solutions as soon as possible because I think we are nearing substantial conclusion. Let us find ways to solve remaining issues,” he said, hoping that related meetings in the future will not be pressed by the same challenges of today.

 

The potential 3.5 billion market

 

Being negotiated to bring about positive and beneficial outcomes, RCEP is seen to intensify trade and investments, lower trade barriers, facilitate trade, and galvanize the gains from regional economic integration—among the most dynamic economies in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Now on its 18th round in Manila, RCEP is armed with the momentum of having thus far concluded chapters on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), Economic and Technical Cooperation, and, in principle, the Competition Chapter.

 

“With our markets integrated, we will be more attractive and competitive in partnering for change and in engaging the world. As host, the Philippines is keen on opening up opportunities for SMEs to play an integral role in the global value chains,” Sec. Lopez said.

 

The full and effective implementation of RCEP can expand the current 620 million ASEAN market to a greater integrated market of 3.5 billion with the six FTA partners, accounting for almost half of the world’s population and almost 30 percent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

 

For ASEAN, RCEP is a reflection of the organization’s thoughtful and deliberate process of integrating the region into the global economy, building on the ASEAN + 1 FTAs with ASEAN Dialogue Partners.

 

Sec. Lopez reiterated that RCEP should translate to generation of more jobs and creation of more business opportunities for ASEAN citizens.

 

Call for an expedited negotiation

 

“RCEP is indispensable as it is designed to be pragmatic, paying heed to the levels of development and sensitivities of each negotiating country,” explained Sec. Lopez, adding that despite the more uncertain geopolitical and economic climate, ASEAN remains resilient and progressive, inclusive and forward-looking, as evidenced by “the continued increase in trade and investments towards achieving shared economic prosperity.”

 

The trade chief encouraged RCEP lead negotiators to expedite negotiations without sacrificing quality and long-term economic gains to achieve a substantial conclusion of a high quality and credible RCEP by year-end.

 

The 18th RCEP TNC Meeting and Related Meetings ends 12 May.

 

“I look forward to hearing good outcomes when I meet fellow ministers at the 3rd Inter-sessional RCEP Ministerial Meeting in Hanoi a few days from now,” he concluded.

KonsultaMD collaborates with new partners to provide better medical service to Globe customers  

 

Manila, Philippines –– KonsultaMD, a 24/7 health hotline service that provides access to licensed and professional doctors to provide immediate medical attention to Filipinos, recently partnered with MedGrocer, FamilyDOC, Healthway Medical, and Lifeline with these benefits:

 

By calling 79880 (mobile) or (02) 798 8000 (landline), callers can speak to a licensed Filipino doctor regarding their health concerns. Inquiries about health-related issues include, but is not limited to, maternity, pediatrics and primary conditions like fever, rashes, and allergies, to name a few. Callers may also inquire about matters pertaining to health coaching, nutrition counselling, permissible medication, and even laboratory results.

 

To be able to connect with the hotline service, customers need to apply for a subscription, which can be done by visiting any Globe store nationwide, calling the KonsultaMD hotline at 79880 (mobile) or (02) 798 8000, or by signing up at their website, https://www.konsulta.md/.  Currently, only Globe customers can subscribe to KonsultaMD but this service will be opened to other operators soon