In celebration of this year’s National Standards Week (NSW) and World Standards Day (WSD), the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTIBPS) once again conducts the Standards’ Essay Writing Contest (SEWC) on its seventh (7th) year, and conducts the first Standards’ Poster Making Contest (SPMC), simultaneously, at the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) on 10 October 2017.

With the theme “Standards Make Cities Smarter,” the 48th edition of the WSD on 14 October, focuses on how standards help create a community that provides for a decent quality of life for its citizens.

As the Philippine’s National Standards Body (NSB), the BPS celebrates the World Standards Day through various programs and activities lined up in the 43rd National Standards Week from 08 to 14 October 2017.

The essay writing contest for the secondary level students of public schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) aims to increase the consciousness of students on the significance of standards in their daily lives. Last year’s writing contest was represented by 10 divisions of city schools and was participated in by 19 high school students. Ms. Nazka Leosala from Taguig Science High School emerged as the champion while Las Piñas High School-Main’s Alexandria R. Villanueva and North Fairview High School’s Jayson H. Tapong took home the 1st and 2nd runner up titles respectively.

The inaugural poster making contest, like the essay writing competition, targets the enhancement of the high school students’ awareness on their rights and responsibilities and consumers, and on product quality and safety through standards.

DTI- Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Assistant Secretary and BPS Officer-inCharge Atty. Ernesto V. Perez emphasizes, “While we regularly work with businesses in the issuance of Philippine Standard (PS) and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) marks, our Standards Blitz program makes it easier for us to reach out to our future leaders. We believe that in these types of programs, we can reach out to our students and show the importance of standards in their day to day lives.”

The announcement of winners for both the Standards Essay Writing Contest and Poster Making Contest will happen in the DTI’s consumer-oriented program, Konsyumer At Iba Pa (KATBP) at DzMM 630khz AM Band and SkyCable Channel 26 on 21 October 2017, Saturday.

“This year’s celebrations of the World Standards Day and National Standards Week not only promote the standards programs and activities; and, recognize the dedication and hard work put up by our experts, but also, provide the opportunities for the youth to appreciate the relevance of standards and influence them to be standards professionals,” CPG Undersecretary Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua stressed.

The essay writing and poster making contests are part of the DTI and Department of Education (DepEd) – NCR’s cooperation on the Standards Blitz Programme for the education of the youth on the relevance of standards and standardization activities. Included in the programs designed to instill values among public high school teachers and their students are the conduct of seminars, visits to schools, school visits to DTIaccredited laboratories, and, integration of standards in the curricula of the secondary level through lesson exemplars and modules.

The DTI-BPS operates the contests through its broadcasting program, Konsyumer Atbp (KATBP) that airs over ABS-CBN’s DZMM, every Saturday from 10:30 in the morning to 12:00 noon. The DTI, DepEd and ABS-CBN conduct the contests in cooperation with the Peide Worth Marketing, Regan Industrial Sales, Inc., Bostanten Corp., Eagle Electric of the Phils., Kellitech Import And Export Services, Wisdom Global Red Trading Inc., TUV Rheinland Phils. Inc., Sheratone Industries Inc., Tosot Phils., and, Kitchen Beauty.

The DTI-BPS, established by the Republic Act No. 4109 and Executive Order No. 133, spearheads the NSW and WSD celebrations for the public to be more aware of how standards can assist them in exercising their rights and responsibilities as consumers.

For more information on the 7th Standards Essay Writing Contest; Poster Making Contest and other activities of the Worlds Standards Day and National Standards Week, call the DTI- BPS at 751.4740/48 or visit www.bps.dti.gov.ph.