DTI warns vendors of uncertified Christmas lights

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is warning all retailers that will be caught selling and distributing uncertified Christmas lights.

DTI Central Visayas Director Asteria Caberte said the agency will be strictly monitoring the sale of Christmas lights in the market to protect consumers from the hazards posed by uncertified products such as electric shock and overheating that often lead to fire, property damages and even loss of lives.

She warned traders that the DTI will penalized those who are caught selling and distributing uncertified Christmas lights under Republic Act (RA) No. 4109 or the Standards Law.

In a bid to protect consumers, the department has issued a list of certified Christmas lights manufacturers in time for the Yuletide season.

The list, which can be viewed at DTI Bureau of Philippines Standards (BPS) website at www.bps.dti.gov.ph, includes the Philippine Standards (PS) licenses and Import Commodity Clearances (ICC) of each manufacturer.

The PS and ICC certificates are issued to manufacturers or importers of mandatory products after they have undergone checking and inspection for product standards compliance.

Director Caberte said DTI has intensified its monitoring and enforcement activities across the region and those who will be caught violating the law will be penalized with monetary fines and product confiscation.

The DTI also reminds consumers to buy only Christmas lights certified by the Bureau of Philippines Standards (PS) to avoid any injurious or untoward incident from happening.

“For the consumers, we suggest that you look at the packaging of the Christmas lights and make sure there’s a certification seal. We would always suggest that consumers go for certified Christmas lights with appropriate stickers because safety is paramount,” Caberte said. #

POPCOM-7 CELEBRATES THREE AWARDING CEREMONIES FOR DOCUMENTARY FILM-MAKING, THE PHILIPPINE POPULATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (PPMP) AND KAUNLARANG PANTAO AWARDS

The regional office of the Commission on Population and Development-7 will hold its 5th annual awarding ceremony for its documentary film-making, the Philippine Population Management Program (PPMP) or PPMP awards and Kaunlarang Pantao on November 14, 2019 (Thursday) at Montebello Villa Hotel, Banilad, Cebu City at 3:00 in the afternoon.

The 1st awarding ceremony is an independent inter-school film-making contest which is an annual activity open for all public and private high schools in Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor and Negros Oriental or in Central Visayas. This year’s genre is documentary filming of people in communities with real life situations with the theme: “The Youth and the Demographic Transition.” Six (6) semi-finalists from respective schools have been selected and these are: “Beat of the Black” (Bohol Wisdom School); “Carousel” (Cebu City Science High School); “Mamang” (Bais National High School); “D.I.–Drop In (Ramon Duterte Sr. Foundation-Science and Technology Education Center); “Hagip-ot” (City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy); and “Kalampusan” (Siquijor Provincial Science High School.)  The six (6) documentary film entries will contend for the top prizes as Best Documentary Film (Top 3 Awards), Best in Direction, Scriptwriting, Cinematography, Audio Use, Editing, Poster, Trailer and Production. Minor prizes are pegged at Php 3,000.00 and the top 3 prizes are Php 10,000.00, Php 12,000.00 and Php 15, 000.00, respectively. Popcom-7’s documentary film-making contest is aimed to address the well-being of adolescents on concerns about youth sexuality, reproductive health and rights.  The Best Documentary Film in the region will compete with other regional winners in the national level next year in 2020.

The 2nd set of the awarding ceremony is given to local government units (LGUs) and population officers with exemplary services extended to the population by having implemented the components of the Philippine Population Management Program (PPMP) such as responsible parenthood and family planning (RPFP), adolescent health and development (AHD), and Population Development (POPDEV) integration programs.  These awards had been given since 2014 with inspiration from the Philippine Population Management Program; thus, the term – “the annual PPMP awards.” Other citations and recognitions will be given to stakeholders and partners of Popcom-7 who have been constantly implementing activities at the base related to population management  and services. The 3rd set of awards now on its 1st year is Kaunlarang Pantao dedicated to the Most Outstanding Local Population Officers, Workers and Offices in the local government units (LGUs).  (30)

PWD COMPLETES 12 WEEK KMME MENTORING SESSIONS

JunareBaculio, President of the Bohol PWD Workers Association, graduates in the recently concluded Kapatid Mentor Micro Entrepreneurs (KMME) program in Bohol which was held at the Panda Tea Garden Grand Pavilion on October 23, 2019.

JunareBaculio, President of Bohol PWD Workers Association shares his KMME journey during the graduation ceremonies of KMME Batch 5 in Tagbilaran City on October 23, 2019.

Baculio, a blind musician, gained the praises and admiration of his onlookers and batchmates when he marched on stage with the aid of a friend, who has been his buddy ever since. In his message, Baculio expressed his thanks to DTI Bohol who gave him and his fellow persons with disability the opportunity to experience this one-of-a-kind mentoring session to help them develop and grow their entrepreneurial abilities.Baculio said that being a person with disability does not hinder him from getting on his dreams for the association.

The Bohol PWD Workers Association is a beneficiary of DTIs Shared Service Facility (SSF) project for its musical recording studio located at Tamblot Street, Tagbilaran City. To further strengthen and capacitate SSF co-operators on business and entrepreneurship, this batch of the KMME was implemented to cater to 14 other SSF co-operators across the province.

DTI Regional Director Aster Caberte expressed her admiration on Baculio, who despite being blind, was able to show to his fellow mentees that his disability is not hindering his potentials as a person and as an entrepreneur. Caberte further said that she is inspired by the dedication, commitment and sincerity of Baculio and she is so proud of DTI Bohol who have given focused assistance to persons with disability in the province. (vligan)

Above photo shows JunareBaculio with DTI Bohol Provincial Director Maria Soledad Balistoy, DTI-7 Regional Director Aster Caberte and Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry VP for External Affairs Engr. Albert M. Uy. (photo by DTI Bohol)

ATBANG FARM WINS AS ONE OF TOP 5 BEST TABLEA DRINK IN THE PHILIPPINES

Atbang Farm’s tablea is named one of the Philippines’ top five tablea drink during the recently concluded KakaoKonek 2019, the biggest annual event of cacao farmers and chocolatiers in the country. A total of 38 entries from all over the country participated the first ever National Tablea Drink Contest and had their tablea chocolate drink entries subjected to taste tests by more than 30 jurors from all regions of the country, following specific set of rules and guidelines set by the event organizers.

The conference, dubbed as “Filipinas Tablea and Chocolate Expo and Cacao Conference” was held last October 17 – 18, 2019 in Davao City, and was organized by the Philippine Cacao Industry Development Council (PCIDC) in partnership with the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao, Inc. (CIDAMI). More than a thousand attendees from the 14 regions in the country attended the event which was held at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang.

This year, 12 Women Micro Entrepeneurs (WMEs) participated in this 2-day activity allowing them to network and appreciate innovations and development directions for the cacao industry in the country. Their participation was made possible with support from the Provincial Government, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture through the Great Women Project 2.

One of the highlights of KakaoKonek 2019 was the awarding of the Top 5 Philippine National Tablea Drink. Months back, the province of Bohol through the prodding of the Department of Trade and Industry together with the Bohol Cacao Development Council sent 5 entries to the said contest to include the following firms: Atbang Farm of Ms. Efrenia Holt, Calape, Bohol, Balai Cacao Enterprises of Ms. Marie Frances Macabenta, Manga District, Tagbilaran City, Audrey’s Bakery of Ms. Audree Arellano, Panglao, Bohol, Canjulao League of Women, Jagna, Bohol and Aurora’s Tablea of Ms. Gina Solis, Loay, Bohol.

Miss Efrenia Holt, owner of Atbang Farm shared her farm journey, whichstarted when she planted cacao trees in 2011 at her farm in Calape, Bohol. However, these cacao trees were almost wiped out during BagyongSenyang and were also affected by the 2013 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol. These and many other challenges allowed her to continue her passion on farming and having seen the market demand for dried and/or fermented cacao beans, she took it as another business model and opportunity for community based livelihood endeavors. Atbang Farm Molded Tablea has been developed and is now being marketed in malls and in select Hotels and Resorts in Panglao and in Tagbilaran City.

Atbang Farm is one of the twenty five (25) WMEs enrolled with the Great Women Project 2 – a Government of Canada funded project on “Supporting Women Economic Empowerment in the Philippines.” This project in Bohol is organized and managed by the local Department of Trade and Industry. A number of technical support and extension services are being provided to the project enrollees to include among others, technology replication through skills trainings, enterprise management trainings, marketing support, product development, packaging and label development, networking and resource mobilization, raw material sourcing, FDA LTO and CPR registration to name a few. These extension services are designed to ensure their business sustainability using various business models.

Ms. Efrenia Holt of Atbang Farm received the Award for being one of the Top 5 Philippine National Tablea Drink. Handing the award is the Philippine Cacao National Council Chair Mr. ValentiTurtur together with Ms. Charito Puentispina of Malagos Chocolates and DTI XI ARD Engr. Edwin Banquerigo Joining Ms. Holt in the awarding are Consul Armi Garcia, Cebu Provincial Cacao Council Chairperson, Blair Panong, DTI7 Regional Cacao IC Focal and Ms.Mari Frances Macabenta of Balai Cacao Enterprises and Mr. Jun Val, Cacao Entrepreneur from Dauis, Bohol.

MENTOR ME ON WHEELS CONQUERS BOHOL

More than 500 mentees and 42 mentors have come together in the province’ biggest gathering of aspiring and existing entrepreneurs in the Mentor ME on Wheels (MMOW) held at the Island City Mall in Tagbilaran City on October 25, 2019.

The whole-day activity, which is spearheaded by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship – Go Negosyo was made possible in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, had mentors coming in from Manila, Cebu and Bohol, who provided 30-minute one-on-one mentorship sessions with MMOW participants who are either aspiring, potential and existing entrepreneurs and students. Topics included Entrepreneurial Mind Setting and Values Formation, Marketing and Financial Literacy/Financing.

In her opening message, RD Aster Caberte encouraged the participants to make use of the opportunity to talk to experienced mentors and get professional advice on how to effectively manage their businesses.

Bohol Governor Arthur Yap and City Mayor John Geesnell Yap graced the event together with PCEs Virgilio “Noy” Espeleta and Henry Tenedero, who represented PCE-Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion. (vligan)

Crowd shot of the more than 500 mentees who attended the event at the Island City Mall Activity Center. Shown in photo from left to right are DTI Bohol Provincial Director Maria Soledad Balistoy, Governor Arthur C. Yap, City Mayor John Geesnell Yap, DTI-7 Regional Director Aster Caberte and PCE Go Negosyo’s Henry Tenedero. (photo by DTI Bohol)