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Promoting highland vegetable industry - Understanding the Writ of Kalikasan
- Gov't to build more expressways through PPP program
When Christmas fails to light With the yuletide breeze starting to drift into Filipino homes, families would adore nothing more than a safe Christmas knitted with kinfolks. The proximity of Central Luzon's provinces, particularly Bulacan and Pampanga, to the suburbs of Metro Manila echoed conspicuous signs symbiotic with urbanization, especially the hurly-burly of knotted electrical lines dangling house after house. This common 'electrifying' vista posed—behind perennially rising oil prices, volatile peso value, and decades-old conflict in the south—a nearer stumbling block to a merry Christmas. Apparent as a ticking time bomb waiting a fuse, those entangled electrical lines might be inspired to go with the connection to poor quality Christmas lights. If so, a sparkling holiday season indeed. Cognizant of this woe, the Department of Trade and Industry has been conducting surprise visits to commercial establishments as to intensify their campaign and monitoring activities against the selling of substandard Christmas lights. Consumers are advised to look for the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers from 2008 to present that are attached on the lights. ICC-marked Christmas decors are regulated by the Bureau of Product Standards to protect the consumers from accidental fires. Under the Department Administrative Order 05:2008, all importers of Christmas lights should secure an ICC certificate prior to the sale and distribution of their products in the local market. DTI said only those importers with ICC Certificates are allowed to affix the ICC marks on their products or product packages after complying with Philippine National Standard requirements. Consumers should also check if the sets of Christmas lights are labeled with the address and trademark, rated voltage and rated wattage of the lamp, manufacturer's/supplier's/distributor's name, rated voltage and rated wattage of the set; the words “For indoor use only”; the number of the standard (PNS 189:2000); and the batch/lot number or bar code. Shelving of added peso to purchase high quality Christmas lights is a drop to the bucket compared to what could be totally razed when these fail. A single centavo spent for Christmas is worth it especially if products bought can last for a long time and safety is not compromised. After all, Christmas knocks only once in a year. (Jose Mari M. Garcia/PIA-3)
For comments, suggestions and inquiries, Lito Dar, PIA-CAR
please call (074) 442-2150/8240 or email at nclcluster.pia@gmail.com
Advancing Stakeholders Partnership towards Good Governance Seminar-Workshop Kahuna Resort, San Juan, La Union
RDC-Regional Geographic Information Network (RGIN) workshop held at NEDA 2 in Tuguegarao City
DTI-Bulacan, headed by Dir. Rhine Aldana, inspects Christmas lights in stores around the province
Impakabsat 2011 opens at the Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City
,PDI
by: BAS/DA
s c i t s i t a t S
National Statistical Coordination Board