Promoting consumers' rights is also consumers' responsibility - guv

KIDAPAWAN CITY, April 12 (PNA) -- Consumers must know their rights and work for it because empowering consumers through consumer rights and protection is not the sole responsibility of national government agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Energy (DOE) and other offices but consumers themselves.This was the message of North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza during the day-long activity on actual calibration and sealing of gasoline dispensing pumps and proper handling and maintenance of hanging scales and calibrating buckets held at the Provincial Capitol Rooftop, Amas, Kidapawan City over the weekend.The activity was spearheaded by the Provincial Price Coordinating Council (PPCC) in order to help gasoline stations in the province to have accurate dispensing pumps and for market stalls, especially those engaged in buying and selling crops, to have precise weighing scales. It is highly important for gasoline stations and other entrepreneurs to have reliable gadgets or equipment so as to ensure truthful service to consumers, Mendoza said. This is part of their responsibilities as entrepreneurs,” she added.Present during the activity were Engr. Nilo J. Geroche, Chief of Energy Industry Management Division of the DOE in Mindanao, Cornelio Quijano, Jr. of DTI Cotabato Provincial Office and representatives from CSI Global Services and the First Philippine Scales, Vilma Gonzales, representative of consumer groups in Kidapawan City and the representatives sent by different local government units.Geroche, Quijano and other resource persons gave inputs through short lectures as well as actual demonstration of the use and monitoring of gasoline dispensing pumps and hanging scales.After the lectures, the distribution of calibrating buckets, additional test weights and additional hanging scales to 16 Local Government Units followed led by the governor.Cynthia D. Ortega, Officer-In-Charge of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) and Action Officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (PDRRMOC), documented and assisted the distribution.She said the distributed gadgets consist of test weights (25kg, 10kg and 5kg), hanging scales which will be used for Timbangan ng Bayan” stalls and calibrating buckets for gasoline dispensing pumps.The recipient LGU’s include the towns of Aleosan, Alamada, Banisilan, Libungan, Pigcawayan, Midsayap, Pikit, Matalam, Carmen, Magpet, Makilala, M’lang, Tulunan, President Roxas, Antipas and Arakan. (PNA)