ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--A consumer organization (CO) has urged the public to tap Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-accredited shops for service and repair of refrigeration and air-conditioning units, home appliances, computer and related devices, motorcycles and automobiles, industrial machine and associated parts, and other electronic- electrical equipment.

Joel M. Almeda, information officer of DTI-accredited CO-Batch ’83 ICNHS Incorporated, said it is better to have things repaired or undergo servicing in DTI-accredited shops or centers because you will be assured not only of their skills but also of their competency, and that they also utilize appropriate tools.

“Ug simba ko kung naay mahitabo nga sunog o uban pang kakulian ug naapektahan o naapil sa kadaut imo butang nga gibilin sa shop, naa pa kitay makuha bisan gamay o igo-igo nga balor pinaagi sa insurance," Almeda said.

(And what if a fire would occur, or any other damaging incident happened, and then the thing that you left in the shop was destroyed, damaged, or lost, we could still ask for a sufficient value as an insurance claim.)

Under Section 1 of Presidential Decree 1572 and Chapter VII of Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, no such service or repair enterprises and technical personnel shall be licensed or permitted to operate in the Philippines for the first time without first being accredited by the Department of Trade.

This is to provide adequate protection in safeguarding the interest of the public against the unethical, unfair, and incompetent practice of service and repair. The move would also protect DTI-accredited service and repair shops against malpractices that undermine their good name and established reputation.

The measure would likewise encourage professionalism and hasten technological development in assuring the public of reliable, ethical, and competent services. (DTI Lanao del Norte)