THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has started the distribution of weighing scales to the different public markets in the province of Zamboanga del Sur as part of its "Timbangan ng Bayan" program.

Raymund Peña, DTI-Zamboanga del Sur consumer division chief, said they will distribute a total of 52 weighing scales with steel enclosures to Zamboanga del Sur’s one component city and 26 municipalities.

Peña said the first batch compose of five municipalities received Thursday their weighing scales following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

The five recipient-towns were Bayog, Dumalinao and Kumalarang that received two weighing scales each and Lakewood and Tigbao one each, according to Peña.

He said the other towns will either receive two weighing scales each or one each.

He said the city of Pagadian is set to receive five weighing scales, four of which will be installed at the Agora Market and one at the Bagsakan Center.

He said they will also install Price Watch Board for Basic Commodities at the public markets to inform the consumers on the prevailing prices of basic commodities.