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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH and the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.DOST.GOV.PH VOL. 06| No. 14 April 24 - May 1, 2018
DTI sets new guidelines on recognition of consumer organizations
SIQUIJOR (PIA) — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) releases the new guidelines on its recognition of Consumer Organizations. This is to provide the buying public with with effective and efficient representation in the development of policies and programs that cater to them, says the DTI here. “The DTI truly values the role of consumer organizations in educating themselves and the buying public in general about their rights and responsibilities and other matters that greatly affect them,” also says DTIConsumer Protection Group (CPG) Undersecretary Atty. Ruth B. Castelo. As defined in the Department Administrative Order No. 17-07 Series of 2017, a Consumer Organization (CO) is “an organized and independent group that represents a substantial number of consumers whose membership is voluntary and whose primary objective is to protect the rights of consumers and to promote their welfare.” The DAO 17-07 classifies consumer organizations (COs) as either Local or National depending on the number of members in the area. It specifies that National Capital Region (NCR)based COs may file their application and submit their documentary requirements for recognition with the DTI’s Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB) and with the DTI provincial offices, on the other hand, for those province-based COs. Upon assessment, the DTI-CPAB to page 2
To provide locals the ease of doing business, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched another Negosyo Center in Larena town, the biggest so far in Central Visayas, according to the DTI. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)
More than 30,000 students complete tertiary education
Around 34,000 students from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) graduate under the Expanded Students Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGPPA). The ESGPPA is implemented by the Commission on Higher Education together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). “We commend our graduates for making it this far. We also laud the unwavering support of their families that brought them to where they are right now. Despite the hardships and the difficulties, they did not falter”, shared DSWD Secretary Emmanuel Leyco. In 2012, SGPPA was launched covering 4,000 students. This was later on expanded to cover additional 36,000 students in 2014. The program provided opportunities to 4Ps households who have children who are determined to pursue college education and qualified for to page 3
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The Philippines supports global consensus on the need to protect and save our planet from environmental degradation and ensure a sustainable future for all people. We at the Philippine Information Agency is one with the nation in celebrating the #EarthDay2018 and the Month of Planet Earth 2018. It’s about time to End Plastic Pollution. Stand up and join the campaign! Happy Birthday Earth! Meanwhile, here are 5 ways to start making a difference this Earth Day: Ditch plastic, go reusable 2. Go vegetarian 3. Green up your ride (either you walk or use a bike or simply make sure you are not a smoke belcher) 4. Go paperless and recycle 5. Perform a home energy audit
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is the Island of Siquijor’s first electronic newsletter produced by the Philippine Information AgencySiquijor Information Center and the DOST - Provincial Science and Technology Center. It contains snippets of information about Siquijor, Central Visayas and the Philippine Government. THERE IS GOOD NEWS EVERYDAY.
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30,000 students complete tertiary....from p. 1 the scholarship. A college degree for the children-beneficiaries opens an opportunity for them to access better employment and help them improve their lives. “We recognize that having a degree will not immediately translate to an improved quality of life, but it’s a stepping stone that will lead them to better opportunities. Through the program, we have given these poor children as well as their families a fighting chance to a better quality of life,” added Secretary Leyco.
Beneficiaries of the program are required to take up courses that are among those identified with the national development plans manpower demands. These include Information Technology (IT)-related courses in agriculture, education, science and math, engineering and health sciencesrelated courses. The 4P’s or Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) is a program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children
aged 18 and below. It is implemented by the DSWD together with other government agencies to include the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Health (DoH). It provides cash grants to compliant household beneficiaries with health grant worth P500 and educational grants worth P300 and P500.00 each to the children studying in elementary and high school, respectively. As of 30 March 2018, there are 4.3 million households enrolled in the program. (DSWD)
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Empleyado sa gobyerno, gipasidan-an kalabot sa partisan politics
(PIA) -- Karong nagsingabot na ang piniliay sa Barangay ug Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), may pasidaan ang Civil Service Commission (CSC) sa tanang mga opisyal ug kawani sa gobyerno nga mosalmot sa partisan politics. Pahinumdom pa ni CSC Chairperson Alicia Bala, adunay mandato ang mga taga-gobyerno nga magpabiling ‘politically-neutral’ sa pagpatuman sa iyang mga katungdanan ilabi na matag nagkaduol ang eleksyon sa nasod.
DTI guidelines
Gidugang pa sa opisyal sa CSC nga may gipagawas silang abiso kalabot sa electioneering ug partisan political activity niadtong Marso 2016, nga angay dili nila pasagdang mamantsahan og politika ang ilang paghatag og serbisyo sa publiko. Gidili usab ang dayag nga pagsuporta sa usa ka kandidato pinaagi sa pagkuyog-kuyog sa kampanya, paghatag og pahayag og pagsuporta ug pangumbinsir sa mga botante nga ibotar ang gisuportaan niniing kandidato.
Dili usab mahimong mo-alagad isip poll watcher sa bisan unsang partido o bisan kinsang kandidato, bisan ang pagsuot og campaign materials, pagdawat og donasyon sa pagpangampanya ug paggamit sa mga propedad sa gobyerno pabor sa usa ka kandidato o partido. A ng mga masakpang molapas niini mahimong pahamtangan og silot nga usa ka buwan nga suspensyon taman sa pagkatangtang sa serbisyo. (ecb/ PIA7-Bohol)
The new guidelines include benefits for recognized COs such as being a legal personality to represent “the sector of segment of society it purports to represent”, being featured through an article in the DTI website or the Consumers’ Portal, once available, and will be given priority to participate in trainings/workshops on consumer related-laws or policies and other Fair Trade Laws (FTLs) among others. A DTI-recognized CO, by
nomination, can also be a Philippine Delegate to the International Consumer Protection Related Forums. “ We b e l i e v e t h a t t h r o u g h t h e establishments of COs, we are a step closer to our goal of heightening consumer awareness and educating them,” says Castelo. The new guidelines on the recognition of COs took effect on 02 March 2018. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor w/ DTI reports).
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or DTI-RO will approve an application and issue a system-generated Certificate of Recognition (COR), which bears the electronic signature of he DTI Secretary. The certificate is valid for three (3) years unless cancelled or suspended. As stated also in the DAO, one of the responsibilities of a recognized CO is to participate in government consultation programs and activities in formulating policies regarding consumer welfare and protection. DTI-CPAB Director Ronnel O. Abrenica underscores, “The DTI expects well thought-off and more articulate draft policies that will result from the active participation of DTI-recognized COs. It is their responsibility then that the consumers’ voice is constantly present and is listened to.” In addition, the DAO states that COs will submit their price monitoring reports for basic necessities and prime commodities to assist in the DTI’s checking on the compliance of business establishments with the provisions of the Fair Trade Laws (FTLs). Furthermore, the DAO says that a recognized CO must also participate actively in the annual celebration of the World Consumer Rights Day every 15th day of March and of the Consumer Welfare Month every October.