ZAMBOANGA CITY – A total of 35 business establishments all over Zamboanga Peninsula were bestowed the BAGWIS Award by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for 2017.
The Bagwis Award is given to establishments as recognition for upholding the rights of consumers while practicing responsible business where consumers get the best value for money.
DTI-9 Director Sitti Amina M. Jain on Thursday said having more awardees means better service to consumers.
“We are happy that for 2017, we have 35 Bagwis Award recipients in Zamboanga Peninsula. This means more and more business establishments put premium on ensuring that our consumers get the best value for their hard-earned money, safeguarding their rights, and equally important, practicing responsible business. In short, it’s not just about money for them but satisfaction of our consumers,” Jain said in an e-mailed statement to the Philippine News Agency.
The award has three levels, the Gold, Silver and Bronze.
The Bronze Award is given to establishments that are compliant to the Fair Trade Laws and established Consumer Welfare Desks or an equivalent Customer Relations Offices inside the establishments.
The Silver Award is bestowed on establishments that achieved the requirements for the Bronze Award coupled with its Social Responsibility program.
The highest award, the Gold Bagwis Award, is given to establishments that are compliant to Fair Trade Laws, established Consumer Welfare Desks or an equivalent Customer Relations Offices, have existing Social Responsibility Program, and have business elements aligned with ISO-9001 for quality management.
Of the 35 awardees, one establishment was awarded Gold, the Toyota-Zamboanga as approved by the DTI National Certification Committee.
There are five Silver Awardees namely, Molave Glass House in Zamboanga del Sur, Princity and Mennen’s Gift Mart of Zamboanga del Norte, and Expression Mobile Center and EMCOR, Inc. of Zamboanga City.
Twenty-nine establishments were awarded the Bronze Award, with 14 coming from Zamboanga City: Shoppers’ Central, Uni-City General Merchandise, OK Department Store, Manila Bazar, J&C Lucky 99 Store, Honda Cars-Zamboanga, Budgetwise Express (Pricewise Marketing Corporation), MINDPRO Retail, Inc., Unitop General Merchandise, Uni Ace Hardware, Megalights Enterprises, Chiong LPG Marketing, Chiong Enterprises, Electronics and Electrical Supply, and L & A Enterprises and Construction.
Ten Bronze Awardees are from Zamboanga del Sur, namely, M. Vega General Merchandise, Honda DES, Inc., EMCOR, Inc., Molave Philippine Bazar, E & J Enterprises, Pagadian Best Emporium, Master Hardware, DES Appliance Plaza, ETC Appliance and Furniture Center, and MINLAN Shoppers’ Plaza.
The remaining five Bronze awardees are from Zamboanga del Norte: DCC Motors Sales (KIA Dipolog), North-Min Auto Dealership (Isuzu-Dipolog), Millennium Cars Mindanao, Inc. (Ford Dipolog), and Techno-Check Service Center and Car Accessories.
The criteria for the award are the following: Compliance to Fair Trade Law; Customer Relations; Store Management Operations; Socially Committed and Responsible Business Sector; and, ISO-9001 Compliant.
The DTI Bagwis National Certification Committee (NCC) is chaired by the Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Chairman (CPG) with members coming from the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Secretary General of the Philippine Association of Supermarkets (PASI), President of the Philippine Amalgamated Association of Supermarkets (PAGASA), Directors of the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP), Bureau of Product Standard (BPS), representative of the Regional Operations Group (ROG), and representative of the National Consumer Affairs Council (NCAC). (PR/PNA)
