Wednesday, November 07, 2007 2 firms in Region 12 awarded gold seal of excellence By Allen V. Estabillo Of Sun.Star General Santos
KORONADAL CITY -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) awarded two establishments in Region 12 or Southwestern Mindanao with the DTI-certified gold seal of excellence, the highest award for consumer-friendly business establishments in the country.
DTI Southwestern Mindanao director Ibrahim Guiamadel said the gold seals, which were given out for the first time in the region since the awards program started last year, were bestowed by the agency's Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP) to Citra Mina Corp. based in General Santos City and the Marbel Universal Trading Inc. in Koronadal City.
"The award recognizes the efforts of these establishments to uphold the rights of their consumers and their ethical business practices," he said.
Aside from the gold seals, nine establishments qualified for the silver seal and 21 bronze seals, bringing the number of DTI-certified seals given out in the Southwestern Mindanao region to 68.
The region covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Kidapawan, Cotabato, and Tacurong.
The new silver seal awardees are: Fiesta Appliance Center, Vic Imperial Appliance Corporation, Emcor Inc., Viajero Motor Sales, Solid Electronics Corporation and Marbel Universal Trading-GenSan in General Santos City; Emcor-Kidapawan and New Berco Machine Shop in Kidapawan City; Emcor-Kabacan branch in Kabacan, Cotabato; and Viajero Motor Sales- Marbel branch in Koronadal City.
Under the DTI's certified establishment program, a business establishment may get a bronze award if it continually complies with the provisions of trade and industry laws and able to maintain consumer welfare desks or DTI-recognized customer service counters.
A store may qualify for the silver award if they have taken further steps to institutionalize social responsibility in their operations aside from just complying with the provisions of consumer laws and related policies.
The gold award is given to establishments that have complied with the requirements for the silver seal and the quality standards set International Organization for Standardization (ISO), specifically ISO 9001 or quality management system and ISO 14001 or the environmental management system.
