Tuesday, March 15, 2022

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World Consumer Rights Day highlights digital finance

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 05:03 AM PDT

THE theme of this year's World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD), "Fair Digital Finance," is crucial in the current situation, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Davao said.The WCRD is coordinated by Consumers International and is celebrated every March 15 of the year to reinforce consumer awareness of their rights and responsibilities. This is to continuously empower and protect them against price manipulation and other malpractices in the purchase of goods and services, especially this time of digitalized transactions.The celebration carries different themes yearly, and for 2022, it banners "Fair Digital Finance". This is in line with the global consumer advocacy movement that calls for fair practices related to financial services. DTI-Davao Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi said the movement will generate new consumer-centered insights and campaign for digital finance that is inclusive, safe, data protected and private, and sustainable. Digital finance is the term used to describe the impact of new technologies on the financial services industry, especially this time of the pandemic. It includes a variety of online platforms that have transformed the traditional way of financial services into online or cashless transactions. However, this year's celebration does not only focus on digitalization but also includes a consumer education campaign on topics related to the management and prevention of the spread of Covid-19, and laws on product standards (PS). According to the local trade chief, these are important for the consumers to become wise and well-informed on the safest way of living in the new normal. "As we take part in this movement, our consumer protection divisions in the regional and provincial offices have lined up several activities in celebration of the World Consumer Rights Day. We want to take this opportunity to step up our campaign to protect the consumers further, especially now that almost everything is done online or virtually," she said.Ambi added that technology has been a major contributor in helping countries continue with economic activities amid the limitations brought by the pandemic. Nevertheless, consumer protection must be considered at all times.In line with this, the DTI-Davao Consumer Protection Division (CPD) actively promotes the weekly webinars organized by the DTI-Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB). The division likewise organized another one on fair trade digital finance to be held on March 16. In the meantime, the provincial offices will have their respective PS Orientation Caravan, to wit: March 4 in Davao del Sur; March 10 in Davao Occidental; March 22 in Davao Oriental; and March 25 in Davao de Oro."As various digital platforms sustain their growth, there are concerns, too, that some consumers have relayed. There are those who feel that their personal information could be at risk if they transact online. Hence, we need to implement measures to increase their confidence," Ambi noted. "We have to help enhance the consumers literacy on the information and communication technology, provide updates on the Covid-19 health protocals, and laws on product standards. We need to intensify our consumer advocacy initiatives to increase consumer awareness for their safety and protection," she said. (PR)

P20-M bamboo processing hub to rise in Davao del Sur

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 05:03 AM PDT

TO PROVIDE more market-centered and environment-sensitive projects among farming communities in the Davao region, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Davao has partnered with the Davao del Sur State College (DSSC) for the establishment of a P20-million bamboo processing facility in the province.The said facility under the Upscaling of Bamboo Rural Enterprise and Development (Bread) Project of DA includes the establishment of a processing center for the production and commercialization of pressed bamboo or engineered bamboo that has high market demand as substitute for wood.In an interview, DA-Davao Technical Director for Operations Dr. Marila Corpuz said that the project is part of the key strategies of DA to establish Agri Industrial Business Corridors (ABCs) and provide farmers access to resources, including state-of-the-art production technology, capital, and value-adding facilities."In partnership with DSSC, we will soon have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Local Government Units (LGUs) and farmer-growers for the establishment of bamboo plantation to ensure supply of bamboo varieties for processing such as Kawayang tinik, Giant bamboo, Bolo, Botong, and Bayog. Farmer-beneficiaries will receive free seedlings and fertilizers," Corpuz said.She added that the project, which will be operational in September this year, targets to organize 500 farmers into clusters with 20,000 hectares of consolidated bamboo farms.DSSC on its part will also establish a two-hectare bamboo setum and nursery that will collect and showcase different varieties of bamboo and serve as a source of good quality planting material for field planting and distribution to interested growers.The said facility will also serve as a venue for farmers and other stakeholders' skills training on Good Agricultural Practices for Bamboo Production, seedling production and processing. The initial beneficiaries for the training on engineered bamboo are the 200 out-of-school youth from various municipalities in Davao del Sur."We thank our partners in the DSSC, the LGUs, DENR and other government line agencies for the full support in the implementation of this project and we hope this partnership will further be strengthened for the project to serve more farming communities," said Corpuz. (PR)

Lawmaker wants LGUs to decide for own development

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 05:01 AM PDT

SENATOR Grace Poe said it is "illogical" for one LGU to stop another from seeking development.This came about during the Senate committee on public service hearing on House Bill 10554 last Wednesday, which was filed in response to the clamor of Davao del Norte LGUs to join the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Co from its current supplier, North Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco).During the public hearing on the proposal to transfer the remaining areas of Davao del Norte all the areas under the franchise of Nordeco, Poe, chair of the committee on public service, said the desire of Davao del Norte LGUs to join Davao Light "weighs heavily" more than the wishes of other LGUs to stop it."I understand the problem of Gov. Tyrone Uy na if nabigyan ng serbisyo ng Davao Light ang ibang munisipyo, baka naman mag suffer ang ibang munispiyo dahil mababawasan ang area ng Nordeco....and we have seen that the service of Nordeco is really lacking...ang ibig ba sabihin nito, in the interest of equality, huwag na tayo mag-expand let us just accept the status quo and let's just all suffer together? I don't think it's logical," Poe said.Poe's advice came out after Uy said the Davao de Oro Provincial Government was not included in the discussion of the proposal even before it was approved in the House of Representatives."I am just protecting our people," Uy said as he cited Nordeco's claim that if the province is the only area under its franchise, the rates will drastically rise.She added, "The role of Congress is to make sure that those granted (with) the franchise is (sic) capable of providing the service that the clients (of what they) deserve which is uninterrupted power, capable service."She pointed out that it is "not logical to maintain the status quo" if the provider of services is inefficient and that the rates are high.Officials of Davao del Norte, headed by Governor Edwin Jubahib, have urged Congress to pass the proposal so that the entire province is placed under the franchise of Davao Light which now serves Panabo City and the towns of Sto. Tomas, Carmen and Braulio Dujali.Jubahib, who was among the officials who were present during the public hearing, said the provincial government and the municipal governments came up with petitions to replace Nordeco with Davao Light because they have been deprived of better service."Ang habol namin is good service for Davao del Norte so kung si Governor Uy habol din nya ay maganda serbisyo ng kuryente sa Davao de Oro sasama na siya sa spetisyon namin laban sa Daneco-Nordeco. Pwede na rin sumabay si Gov Tyrine for the betterment of Davao de Oro," Jubahib added.Uy said he understands the sentiments of the local officials of Davao del Norte, however, he said, he also wanted to protect the welfare of his constituents and the development of his province.When asked by Poe on whether the Aboitiz utility will be willing to expand to Davao de Oro, Rodger Velasco, Davao Light president, said the company "is open to discussing to expand farther" to the province.Velasco said it heeded the call of the LGUs of Davao del Norte, its business sector and other groups to assume the role of being the power utility of the province because they submitted resolutions and position papers.He said the utility operates in its franchise area with a "non-monopolistic" mindset as it continually improves its services at affordable rates.He said its rates, which are about P3 lower than that of Nordeco, are based on the value-chain of supply, not only distribution rates "so that the bottom line (is) that (what) we deliver to our customers is cheaper (electricity)."Senator Franklin Drilon also torpedoed the argument of those opposing the proposal that Congress cannot allow the takeover of the franchise area based on the provision of the Electric Power Reform Act of 2001.Drilon, a lawyer, said that Congress has, based on the Constitution, the power to grant and revoke a franchise"The power of Congress is defined in the Constitution," Drilon said, pointing out that the argument cannot stand because the authority on the franchise is within the prerogative of Congress. (PR)
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