|
DTI
supports Fire
Prevention Month
To
drum up the observance of the Fire Prevention
Month this year, the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) here is focusing on consumer
products that are considered prone to cause
fire.
Bernardino
C. Abundo, Jr. of the DTI's Consumer Welfare
Division said last week that among the products
that should pass their critical eye are
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), electrical
appliances and electrical accessories.
He
said that the department's regular monitoring
activity will be expanded to focus on electrical
products and accessories to determine whether
they conform with the standards set by the
Philippine National Standards. Some of the
products to be given extra attention are room
airconditioners, electric fans, flat irons,
safety matches, cigarette lighters, flourescent
lamp ballasts, compact bulbs, starters, snap
switches and the like.
In
case of LPG cooking gas, a requalification
monitoring will be conducted this March to
determine cylinders which are defective and need
repair or replacement. The DTI will conduct an
inventory of cylinders to be requalified
together with the names of local dealers, a list
of whom will be submitted to the DTI regional
office. The regional office will then advise LPG
refillers in Albay and Camarines Sur to check on
cylinders that are turned over by Catanduanes
dealers.
In
another development, the Local Price and
Consumer Coordinating Council (LPCCC) met last
week to consider the prices of basic and prime
commodities in the capital town.
Presided
over by DTI director Ireneo B. Panti, Jr., the
meeting included Councilor Luis Avila, who
represented Mayor Jose U. Alberto II, and
representatives of the Department of
Agriculture, National Food Authority, and the
Virac public market management.
The
council meeting was held in the light of last
week's holding of the Bicol SCUAA regional meet,
as visitors from the mainland were expected and
did complain about the high cost of fish and
other products in the market.
As
the recently approved Sangguniang Bayan
ordinance fixing price ceilings for fish and
marine products has yet to be signed by Mayor
Alberto, the members of the council could do
nothing but appeal to fish dealers and vendors,
who reportedly turned deaf ears on the market
management.
A
source say consumers are lending political color
to the uncontrolled fish prices, recalling that
then Mayor Rodulfo A. Sarmiento barred fish
dealers and fish vendors from selling their
products at the market if they would not follow
the price ceilings imposed by the Sangguniang
Bayan. He said that what is needed now is
political will, even if the new ordinance is
approved into law.
|
