THE Certified Establishments (CEs) and would-be CEs of Davao del Sur, in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao del Sur and the Department of Education (DepEd), have distributed school supplies to a total of 1,096 students from selected public elementary schools in the province.
As of July 30, a total of five CE-adopters of the program have donated about P80,000 worth of school supplies which include: bags, notebooks, ruled pads, pencils, ballpens, crayons, pencil cases, sharpeners and slippers.
The CE firms are: JK Salazar Corporation and Motorzone Marketing (Bansalan); Pasroy General Merchandise, Uni City General Merchandise, and United General Merchandise (Digos). The student-beneficiaries were chosen from among the top 10% of the indigent students in the schools from Grades I to VI.
Aside from the provision of school supplies, JK Salazar Corp. also conducted a feeding program for malnourished students in Bansalan Central Elementary School during the culmination of the Nutrition Month observance last July 30. Around 630 students were fed in cooperation with Monde-Nissin Corporation, the manufacturer of fortified “Lucky Me” noodles.
The CE: Adopt-a-School project is an initiative of DTI-Davao del Sur in cooperation with the Davao del Sur ConsumerNet member-agencies under the BAGWIS Award Program. It is one of the strategies adopted to promote and uphold consumer rights and maintain ethical business practices of the business sector.
DTI-Davao del Sur provincial director Engr. Edwin O. Banquerigo said that when a company is a recipient of DTI BAGWIS (formerly CE) Award, it signifies the firm’s adherence to, and compliance with, fair trade laws and has good customer relations.
There are three levels of awards under the DTI Bagwis Program – bronze, silver, and gold.
The Bronze Seal represents the establishment’s compliance with Fair Trade Laws and the presence of a Consumer Welfare Desk or a recognized Customer Service Counter. The Silver Seal means the achievement of the requirements required for the bronze seal plus the establishment’s commitment to social responsibility. The Gold Seal, on the other hand, embodies the achievement of the Silver Seal requirements and some elements aligned with the ISO 9001 (Quality Management System). [DTI/ALPastias/JGMMendoza]
Banquerigo added that as a certified BAGWIS awardee, the firm upholds its social responsibility, not only to the buying public, but also to the triple “P” bottom lines of business, which are people, planet, and profit.
The CE: Adopt-a-School project is a strategy to address the corporate social responsibility aspect of the CEs and to promote the certified CEs to the buying public by making them known of its products and/or services.
