The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 once again awarded Bagwis Seals to business establishments that continue to promote consumer protection.
A total of 56 business establishments were given the Bagwis Award seals during a virtual ceremony on July 29. Thirty-two of them, who were from Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental, were awarded with a gold seal. Meanwhile, seven businesses and 17 others will receive silver and bronze seals, respectively.
The agency, being an advocate of consumer welfare, also makes sure that those businesses that consistently uphold the rights and welfare of the consumers are given due recognition. These awardees have met the qualifications and standards of the Bagwis Award while practicing responsible business operation where consumers get the best value for money amidst the pandemic.
DTI 11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi said that the DTI – Bagwis program also encourages the setting up of a Consumer Welfare Desk (CWD), or an equivalent customer relations office inside the establishment. This will provide information to consumers and serve as a mechanism for the speedy resolution of consumer complaints.
“We want to encourage the business establishments to continuously adhere to the existing laws and guidelines and become more responsive to their customers. Being in the service sector, they have to keep up with changing business environment and respond to the needs of consumers. And this will not only benefit their clients or customers but as well as their business since they could develop more patrons,” Ambi noted.
The Bagwis Award is open to supermarkets, department stores and specialty stores, appliance centers, hardware stores and DTI-accredited service and repair shops.
“Bagwis” is a local term for “wing” which implies that consumers are protected when patronizing business establishments that receive such an award. This has three categories, to wit:
Bronze Seal.Compliant with fair trade laws, including the Consumer Act, Price Act, Price Tag Law, impose discounts for senior citizens, and adopt effective customer relations services and efficient store management operations.
Silver Seal. Compliant with the bronze criterion and exemplify social commitment and responsibility, such as the involvement in any regular corporate social responsibility programs in the community.
Gold Seal. Compliant with both the bronze and silver criteria,and established Quality Management System or ISO-certified.
“We at DTI are very much pleased that more and more establishments have recognized the necessity to obtain the Bagwis Seal not only to help and protect the consumers and enterprises, but most importantly, the prestige it brings to their businesses. This will boost the trust and confidence of the buying public, which will redound to their economic advantage,” Ambi said, adding that the program is also a check and balance mechanism for establishments to be guided on how they should operate while consistently conforming to government regulation, both local and international standards.
To know more about the DTI–Bagwis program and the upcoming virtual recognition, the public may contact the DTI 11 Regional Office-Consumer Protection Division at telephone number (082) 224-0511 local 417 and through the email addressr11@dti.gov.ph. Clients may also contact DTI 11 by sending a message to the Facebook page DTI Region 11.DTI11/MRMS/jmm
