ConsumerNet monitors compliance with Fair Trade Law
by Peter A. Balocnit
TABUK, Kalinga (9 October) -- The Consumer Network here (ConsumerNet) is conducting monitoring on business establishments engage in services and sell of goods, hardware, and food to ensure that consumers are protected and their welfare served.
Provincial Director Grace Baluyan of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced this in celebration of the consumer month. She said members of Consumernet-Kalinga are making the rounds on groceries to check compliance of the fair trade law.
As part of the observance of the consumer month, weighing scales will be checked and calibrated if necessary, she said. A meat festival is also scheduled on October 18 to assess the capability of meat vendors in maintaining sanitation in the market simultaneous with the conduct of a seminar on meat hygiene.
On October 24, the team will monitor palay and grains buying station and rice retailers to check weighing scales used, along side the monitoring of LPG prices now that P22.00 price cut for an 11-kg tank was implemented as LPG contract prices dropped and the peso strengthened against the US dollar.
Baluyan, however, pointed out that DTI has no jurisdiction on the regulation of prices of petroleum products as it is logged with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). She said DTI is working with ERB for the deputization of local government units with established gasoline stations.
On the other hand, Board Member Columbus Sallidao requested to include monitoring of discount privileges entitled to senior citizens. It was also emphasized that the right of consumers to demand receipts be respected. (PIA-Kalinga) [top]
