VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Ilocos Sur awarded Bagwis seals to establishments in the province during the Consumer Forum held Friday, November 22, at the Max’s Restaurant in Calle Crisologo here.
These include 31 businesses offering motors, groceries, and supermarkets to recognize their commitment to upholding the rights of consumers while practicing a responsible business.
Among these, 16 were awarded with gold Bagwis seals for 2023 and 2024, six were given the silver, and nine received bronze seals.
DTI-Ilocos Sur Provincial Director Rosario Quodala said, “We are giving the Bagwis awards to complying establishments, and the DTI wants to give due credit to them as they comply with fair trade laws and uphold the rights of the consumers.”
“It means these establishments nurture and care for their consumers,” Quodala said.
The Bagwis seal will serve as a symbol that assures the customers that they can trust in the service and products of the establishments.
Businesses that seek to join the program must abide by these five factors: compliance with fair trade laws, compliance with price tag law, customer relations, store management operations, a socially committed and responsible business sector, and being International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 compliant.
Moreover, Quodala reminded the attendees to practice maximum tolerance and always prioritize the welfare and rights of the consumers.
One of the Bagwis seal recipients, Claudette Paa, store manager of Puregold Vigan, said, “As for our store, we ensure that we achieve our goals, which are zero customer complaints, and so far we have only received minor complaints, which we always see to be addressed immediately.”
She also thanked the DTI and said that she learned a lot during the discussions with the resource speakers during the forum where Consumer Rights, Transparency in Business: Building Trust with Consumers, and Our Voices Matter: Empowering Consumers were discussed.
The members of the Provincial Consumer Affairs Council from different government agencies also attended the forum.
The attendees, together with lecturers and the DTI, discussed consumer rights, best practices of the establishments, and policies on how to enhance the consumer experience and promote their welfare.
The conduct of the consumer forum and the awarding of Bagwis, which was supposed to be held in October, were rescheduled and postponed twice due to the series of typhoons that hit the province recently. (AMB/ATV/PIA Ilocos Sur)
