DTI

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview after the inspection of Noche Buena/Media Noche Goods at Welcome Supermarket in Pasay

QUESTION: Ano po ang inyong assessment sa inspection natin?

ANSWER: We checked ang Noche Buena list natin sa SRP. Lahat naman pasok. In some cases, mas mababa pa nga sila. We’re quite happy with the inspection. Pagdating nga sa pasta, compared to last year, malaki nga ang binaba sa presyo.

Of course, everytime bumababa ang presyo, masaya kami ni Usec Dimagiba at lahat ng mga namimili. So far, we’re happy to say that in this check, lahat naman pasok na pasok.

QUESTION: Iyon pong ham, napansin po namin, pabagu-bago po ang presyo?

ANSWER: Pagdating sa meat products, mayroon talagang fluctuations. Pero the ones that we saw earlier, pasok siya sa suggested retail price.

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview during the Destruction of Uncertified Christmas Lights at DTI

QUESTION: Ano po ang role ninyo sa activity na ito?

ANSWER: Ako kasi ang Chairman ng (Senate) Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship so we have oversight function sa Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Throughout the year, aside from helping our micro and small entrepreneurs, isang lagi rin namin ginagawa ay ang consumer check, of course with Usec. (Victor) Dimagiba and Secretary Greg (Domingo).

This time, ang nakikita natin ay iyong mga substandard Christmas lights. Dinudurog po siya rito, sinisira dahil hindi po ito safe sa ating mga bahay.

Kailangan tingnan po ang tamang sticker at dumaan sa tamang proseso para alam nating safe ang mga ito para sa ating mga bahay.

Ito po, iyong mga nakita nating substandard, walang tamang ICC sticker at kung makikita po ninyo, talagang marupok po ito at hindi talaga tamang gamitin para sa ating mga bahay

Q: Sir sa policy lang, paulit-ulit po kasi iyong problemang ito. Even if every year po ini-inspect po natin. From the policy side, ano po ang puwede nating gawin?

 A: From the policy side, pinag-uusapan namin ni Undersecretary Dimagiba, baka kailangang itaas ang penalties sa mga retailers na nagbebenta.

Last year, nag-check din tayo ng Christmas lights. This has to be a partnership between the public and government.

It won’t fully work kung panay confiscating lang ng DTI. Kailangan ang mamimili maging mapanuri rin sa binibili, tsini-check ang kanilang binibili kung akma sa kanilang mga bahay.

Q:  May proposal po ba kung gaano kataas ang penalties?

A: We’re discussing it now.  In fact, magkakaroon ng amendments sa Consumer Protection Law next year.

 

First Negosyo Center Launched in Cagayan de Oro

It’s all systems go for the Go Negosyo Act with the launching of the country’s first-ever Negosyo Center today (Thursday) in Cagayan de Oro City.

“The opening of the first Negosyo Center in the country eases the doing of business in the city, as it will help fast-track government processes in putting up a business,” said Senator Bam Aquino, author of Republic Act 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act.

“The Negosyo Center will boost the development of micro, small and medium enterprises, creating jobs and livelihood in the community,” the senator added.

Aquino said the Cagayan de Oro Negosyo Center will be the first of many, as RA 10644 mandates the creation of such in all provinces, cities, and municipalities in the country.

“We are closely working with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to establish more Negosyo Centers all over the country,” Aquino said.

Aquino said Negosyo Centers will provide a unified and simplified business registration process, making it easier for entrepreneurs to register and start up their businesses, as well as gain access to sources of financing.

“By making business registration simpler and more efficient, we hope to encourage more Filipinos to start their own small businesses to stimulate the local economy,” Aquino added.

In addition, the Negosyo Centers will provide courses and development programs, training, advice on business conceptualization and feasibility, financing, management, capability building, human resources, marketing and other support services.

“We call on the businessmen and entrerpreneurs of Cagayan de Oro to engage with the Negosyo Center and give feedback on its operations so we can continuously improve its services to the public, as we replicate it nationwide,” Aquino added.

The DTI provincial office at the ground floor of Antolin Building in Cagayan de Oro City will house the first Negosyo Center in the country.

Aquino will attend the launch together with invited local officials, Cagayan de Oro City Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas, Misamis Oriental 1stDistrict Rep. Peter Unabia and Governor Vicente Emano.

Also attending the event are DTI undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya, DTI Misamis Oriental provincial director Eliza Pabillore, assistant director Jerry Clavecillas of the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprises Development and assistant regional director Linda Boniao of DTI Region 10.

The DTI will also sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with several industry partners to provide technology enablement and coaching sessions for MSMEs.

Ensure Supply, Prices of Goods in Typhoon-Hit Areas – Sen. Bam to DTI, LGUs

Senator Bam Aquino has called on concerned government agencies, led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to strictly monitor the supply and prices of basic goods, especially in areas devastated by Typhoon Mario.

“Ensuring supply and prices will keep unscrupulous traders who might take advantage of the situation in check,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

Aquino also urged the local government units to closely coordinate with the DTI in monitoring businesses in typhoon-hit areas.

“I also urge the public to report businessmen who will unjustly hold supply and jack up prices in typhoon hit areas so they can be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law if guilty,” said Aquino.

According to latest reports, Mario has affected 258,976 families or 1,160,050 people in 1,126 barangays in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central and Southern Luzon, Bicol, Central Visayas, Cordillera, and Metro Manila.

The death toll remained at 11 with 12 injured and two still missing while at least 81 roads and six bridges remained impassable in Ilocos, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila.

In addition, the lawmaker called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to speed up the repair of damaged roads and other infrastructure so as not to hamper the delivery of goods to typhoon-hit areas.

Usually, Aquino said prices of basic products in areas devastated by typhoons and other calamities increase because of supply problems.

In addition, Aquino said Republic Act No. 7581 or the Price Act imposes an automatic price freeze in areas placed under state of calamity to ensure that goods remained at prevailing prices until the state of calamity is lifted.

Among the products covered by the price freeze are basic non-agricultural necessities, including canned fish and other canned marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergents, candles, bread, and salt.

Also included in price freeze are fresh vegetables, roots crops, sugar, cooking oil, firewood, charcoal and medicine classified as essential by the Department of Health.

Ensure Supply of Food in Typhoon-Hit Areas – Sen. Bam to DTI, LGUs

 

Senator Bam Aquino called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and local government units (LGUs) to ensure supply of basic goods and other important commodities in areas devastated by typhoon Glenda to avoid hike in prices.

“We must ensure that there’s enough supply of basic goods and other commodities in areas severely damaged by the recent typhoon, especially in the Bicol region,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“Usually, prices of basic products in areas devastated by typhoons and other calamities increase because of supply problems,” added Aquino.

Aquino also reminded businesses in areas placed under a state of calamity to abide by the 60-day price freeze imposed by the DTI.

 These areas are Obando, Bataan, Muntinlupa, Cavite, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Gumaca, Quezon.

Under Republic Act No. 7581 or the Price Act, an automatic price freeze is imposed in areas placed under state of calamity to ensure that goods remained at prevailing prices until the state of calamity is lifted.

“The clearing of roads due to fallen trees and other debris is crucial to the delivery of goods to typhoon stricken areas. We call on communities to help out our agencies to ensure our thoroughfares are passable,” Aquino added.

Aquino said among the products covered by the price freeze are basic non-agricultural necessities, including canned fish and other canned marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergents, candles, bread, and salt.

Also included in price freeze are fresh vegetables, roots crops, sugar, cooking oil, firewood, charcoal and medicine classified as essential by the Department of Health.

A fine of up to P1,000,000 and a maximum 10-year jail sentence await violators of the Price Act.

“The Price Act ensures availability of basic necessities and prime commodities at reasonable prices at all times without denying legitimate business a fair return on investment,” the senator said.

In addition, the lawmaker also appealed to businessmen to keep the cost of construction and building materials as a way of helping those rebuilding their homes destroyed by the typhoon.

Recently, Sen. Aquino has filed a bill seeking to establish emergency depots to combat hoarding, price manipulation and inflation during calamities.

In his Senate Bill No. 2215, Aquino said that emergency depots will provide survivors of natural or man-made calamities quick access to affordable basic goods and other prime commodities.

“Community depots will ensure that goods in the market would be available to avoid hoarding in affected areas and protect survivors from price manipulation during times of crisis,” said Aquino.

 

Photo source: Inquirer.net

 

 

Decongest Manila Port – Sen. Bam

 

The Port of Manila has been experiencing congestion and logistical problems, which has resulted in higher prices of goods in different parts of the country, according to Senator Bam Aquino.

“The Manila Port has had logistical nightmares recently and thus, delay in the delivery of goods and services to the provinces,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

Aquino said he received reports of shortage in medical equipment such as dental needles and anaesthetics in Mindanao due to the slow movement of shipments from Manila.

“The prices of dental needles went up from P600 to almost P2,000. Even if you have the money, still you cannot find one in drugstores and other medical companies because of delay in arrival of supplies from Manila,” Aquino stressed.

Logistical problem has also affected the manufacturing sector due to the late arrival of needed raw materials, hampering their production and delivery schedule.

The delay in the delivery of shipment of rice, garlic and onions also contributed to the high prices of such goods in the market.

“Businesses are affected by delays in the delivery of their shipment, forcing them to increase prices to recoup losses. The increase will then be shouldered by the helpless consumers,” the senator said.

The senator called on the administration of the Manila Port, local government of Manila, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other stakeholders to find a “win-win” solution that will address supply problem, reduce prices of commodities and solve the perennial traffic problem, all at the same time.

“I believe that all of our major problems are addressed when stakeholders gather together to solve it,” said Aquino.

Aquino said stakeholders should consider using other ports, such as the Port of Batangas, Subic and Davao, as alternative unloading points for cargo and shipments to decongest the Port of Manila.

“If the cargo is headed to Pangasinan or La Union, it would be wise to have it unloaded in Subic. This way, time and money will be saved,” Aquino said.

“If these cargoes are diverted to other ports, the number of trucks roaming around Manila will be reduced, resulting to better traffic conditions. It will be a win-win solution for everybody,” Aquino said.

 

 

Statement of Sen. Bam Aquino on Senate President Franklin Drilon’s Call for Probe on High Prices

Lubhang naapektuhan ang kakayang bumili ng publiko, lalo na ang mahihirap, dahil sa biglaan at hindi maipaliwanag na pagtaas ng presyo ng bawang, bigas at iba pang pangunahing bilihin.

Kaya kaisa ako sa panawagan ng Senate President na imbestigahan ang ugat ng biglaang pagtaas ng presyo at magbalangkas ng mga solusyon upang agad na matugunan ang problema at mapagaan ang pasanin ng mamimili.

Dapat gawin ang lahat upang malaman kung nagkaroon ng sabwatan sa pagitan ng market players na nauwi sa artipisyal na kakulangan ng supply at pagsirit ng presyo. Ang sinumang mapatutunayang nagmanipula sa presyo at supply ay dapat papanagutin sa batas.

Handa ang Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship na pangunahan ang imbestigasyon.

Sen. Bam, DTI Inspect Prices, Quality of School Supplies in Divisoria

Days before the start of classes, the Office of Senator Bam Aquino and concerned government agencies conducted a joint test-buy operation Thursday (May 29) to check prices and ensure quality of school supplies in Divisoria, Manila.

The group, led by Aquino and Trade Secretary Gregory purchased school supplies from different stores in Tutuban to check on their prices and quality.

Also, Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officials joined the operation and inspected several school supplies, including crayons, for safety issues.

“As we all know, Divisoria is a favorite destination for budget-conscious shoppers of school supplies so we want to know if stores follow the suggested retail prices set by the DTI,” said Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“Aside from checking prices, there is also the need to check the labels of school supplies being sold to ensure that consumers are getting their money’s worth down to the last centavo,” Secretary Domingo added.

Aquino warned that violation of existing quality standards and labeling requirements is punishable under the Consumer Act.

School supplies covered by PNS are crayons, wood-cased black lead pencils, pencil sharpeners, writing chalk, bond paper, notebooks, grade school pad, ruler, white board marker, correction fluid, paper clips, glue, ball point pen and refill, and, eraser.

The Trade Secretary said that stalls that sell non-conforming school supplies would be issued a show-cause letter and given 48 hours to respond.

“If they are found to have a violation, a notice of violation can be immediately issued,” Domingo said.

Bam Lauds Agri Investments in Davao del Sur

Senator Bam Aquino lauded the Department of Trade and Industry’s approval of six shared service facilities (SSF) worth P2 million in Davao del Sur, which are meant to boost the production of coco vinegar, kakanin, coco shellcraft, muscovado sugar, as well as cacao beans fermentation and coco coir processing.

“Our farmers and agri-entrepreneurs need a lot of support,” said Sen. Aquino, “and the SSFs can provide that much-needed push for them to boost production, improve their quality, and even create additional income through off-farm activities.”

“We congratulate the DTI for this project, and we hope that more SSFs can be built in more strategic locations throughout the Philippine countryside,” the senator added.

The DTI has a total of P700 million allocated for the SSF program, under which facilities may be shared by beneficiaries such as cooperatives, institutions, and communities. The DTI likewise hopes that more micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will avail themselves of this program.

Aside from the six SSFs in Davao del Sur, three more project proposals “are targeted to be approved before the 2013 ends,” according to the DTI.

According to DTI-DS officer-in-charge Eulogio Orevillo, “It is our hope that [entrepreneurs and agricultural cooperatives] will improve their business especially in terms of profit by increasing their production volume and enhancing product quality. These we can easily achieve with the help of the SSFs.”

“The SSFs are one concrete–and, we hope, effective–way of supporting our farmers and agri-entrepreneurs, but we really need to push for rural development and more investments in the Philippine countryside,” Sen. Aquino pointed out. “Poverty is most severe in the rural areas, and we need more government interventions and PPPs (public-private partnerships) here to generate jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities for our people.”

Photo source: Mindanews.com

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