Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Two Kalinga business establishments got CE seal of excellence

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Two business establishments here were awarded the Certified Establishment (CE) seal of excellence by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) after complying with trade and industry laws.

Josie Daliyong of DTI-Kalinga said Tabuk Lumber and Hardware and Kalinga Lumber and Hardware were among the 26 other awardees in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) given the seal during the culminating program of Consumer Welfare Month at the Atrium Hall, SM Baguio City, last week.

Those who qualified for the distinct award in business met the requirements in providing benefits to their employees like minimum wage, social security services, Philhealth and other employment benefits.

Tabuk Lumber and Hardware was handed the Silver Award for meeting the Minimum wage, SSS, and Philhealth requirements, while Kalinga Lumber Hardware qualified for Bronze for satisfying the fair trade law.

The highest Gold Award, which is still highly coveted in the region, is to be determined by the International Standards Organization (ISO), with more requirements.

Daliyong said the program is a reward mechanism encouraging business firms to be more socially responsible and enable them to regulate their own operations and satisfy employment conditions mandated by law.

To ensure that these services are sustained, DTI conducts constant monitoring among business establishments, making it a regular project of the department, Daliyong said.

Last year, T. Bayle Supermart was awarded the CE seal of excellence. It is the first qualifier in the province. **By Larry Lopez, ZZW