DTI Underscores SSF, Consumer Welfare Drive

At least three shared service facilities (SSFs) and provision of equipment to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to improve their respective production have been implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Nueva Ecija in the first quarter of 2016.

This developed as a total of 2,660 business names were approved by DTI provincial office at the average processing time of 6.8 minutes upon submission of necessary documents, according to provincial director Brigida Pili.

The latest SSF provision has increased to 33 the total number of SSFs that uplifted the viability and resulted to successes of farmers’ organizations and small entrepreneurs in Nueva Ecija since the program implementation in 2013, Pili said.

She identified the SSF beneficiaries early this year as Mataas na Kahoy Gabay sa Pangkabuhayan in Gen. Natividad town, the Dynamix Business Resource Center Service Cooperative in Aliaga and Kababaihang Masigla ng Nueva Ecija in Quezon, all in this province.

The agency has also checked under its consumer protection mandate at least 300 business establishments within the province, making sure that local businesses are compliant with the provisions of Price Act.

She noted the active participation of various consumer action councils (CACs) which voluntarily support the government through the series of consumer rights and protection seminars.

“The CACs are not being paid. They are the ones spending to give knowledge and information to the people and we are seeing the good results,” Pili added. (PNA) FFC/ZST/MEG/PS