DTI Cagayan’s Consumer Protection Division Team members Lourdito Antonio, STIDS and Mar Anthony Alan, in Clamaniugan, Cagayan during the 3-in-1 activity.

The Consumer Protection Team of DTI Cagayan consisting of Lourdito B. Antonio, Zenadia P. Baricaua, -both Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialists – and Mar Anthony V. Alan, Trade and Industry Development Specialist, conducted a 3 –in-1 activity at the Calamaniuagan Public Market, Cagayan on 13 February.

Together with staff from the Treasurer’s Office of the Municipality of Calamaniugan, Cagayan, the team conducted Operation Timbangan; monitored compliance of the retail stores to fair trade laws and conducted business education and advocacy to the business establishments in the public market as well as other firms within the Municipality.

77 weighing scales were checked and tested during the Operation Timbangan. Seven of these weighing scales were found to be defective, were confiscated and turned over to the Municipal Treasurer’s Office for appropriate action.  This means that they may be condemned or recalibrated. The team also inspected the Timbangan ng Bayan that was donated by DTI and found it still operational, well maintained and accurate.

Thirty business establishments were monitored as to their compliance to Fair Trade and related laws. This includes Business Name Law, Price Tag Law, Price Act Law and Product Standards Law.  The team also monitored one Private Emission Testing Center operating in the area.

Fifty-six fruits and vegetables and fish and meat vendors at the public market as well as twenty-seven business representatives and owners benefitted from the Business Education and Advocacy Session conducted by the DTI Cagayan Consumer Protection Team.

Apart from fulfilling DTI’s mandate of protecting consumers, the 3-in-1 activity of DTI Cagayan has helped increase DTI’s visibility in the countryside and strengthened its networking with the local government units of the province.♦

Date of release: 22 February 2019