THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Northern Mindanao on Thursday, October 27, cited several business establishments for being customer-friendly and responsible business establishments, however no Bagwis Gold awardee for this year.
The agency aimed not only to enforce laws with the business establishments as well as monitor their operations but also to build a good relationship with them.
"We aim to build a good relationship with our businesses that they don't just view us nga sige lang ug enforce sa laws, and monitor them so murag hostile ang dating. What we do sa other side is developmental, we seek to recognize those who are compliant to laws," Lawyer Fel Lester Brillantes, DTI-Northern Mindanao chief of Consumer Welfare Division.
"The DTI thought why not award those establishments with good customer services, complying laws sa SSS, Pag-ibig, BIR, giving discounts to senior citizens, to Persons with Disabilities, and provide proper payment of taxes," said Brillantes.
All retail establishments can join the program, such as supermarkets, department stores and specialty stores, appliance centers, hardware stores and DTI-Accredited service and repair shops.
For this year, however, there is no awardee for Bagwis Gold.
"Difficult man kuhaon ang Gold award because those establishments who will apply will be evaluated nationally man. And aside from complying from the corporate social responsibility, dapat compliant pud sila sa International Organization for Standardization (ISO)," he said.
Last year, Robinsons Supermarket in Barangay Lapasan and Toyota Cagayan de Oro, Inc. bagged the Bagwis Gold award.
For those who compliant to Fair Trade Laws and Consumer Welfare Desk or an equivalent customer relations office inside the mall, got the bronze.
Eleven establishments bagged the Bagwis Bronze, namely, PureGold Price Club, Inc.-Bukidnon, TH Valencia Trading-Valencia City, D'7's Gifts Store Corporation-Malaybalay City, W&M Premium Store-Camiguin, J+ Hardware & General Merchandise-Lanao del Norte, Jeracines Iligan Interprises-Lanao del Norte, Camsur General Merchandise, Inc.-Misamis Occidental, Winka Supermart Co.-Misamis Occidental, Fabulous Novo Jeans & Shirt-Misamis Occidental, RL Builder-Misamis Occidental, and Des Appliance Plaza Inc.-Misamis Occidental.
Establishments who comply with the requirements in Bronze level plus the social responsibility criteria gets the Bagwis Silver awards, which were the following: Marnick Minimart-Lanao del Norte, Ji & Je General Merchandise-Lanao del Norte, Crown Paper and Stationeries Supply-Lanao del Norte, S-Bros Grocers Corporation-Lanao del Norte, and J Marketing Corporation-Misamis Occidental.
Also awarded Bagwis Silver were, the RMK General Merchandise-Misamis Occidental, Highway Construction and General Merchandise-Misamis Occidental, and five 7-eleven stores located in the different parts of the city, and the Fast Autoworld Philippines Corporation-Misamis Oriental.
Brillantes said business establishments which obtain the said awards will have the trust and confidence of the consumers.
"Para sa ang consumers, kung makakita siya ug tatak na gold or silver or bronze certified ang store, makampante siya nga ani nga tindahan, and that person will know that he or she would get the best service, best value of money, dili peke, dili substandard ang ginabaligya," he said.
"On the part of the establishments, although there are no cash incentives in this award, this is simple recognition sa ila, apason nila ni nga award because in some way, it is promotion to them," he added.