MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)--The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Bukidnon office calls all Service and Repair Enterprises (SREs) in the province to renew their accreditation.

Junar B. Merla, Chief of the Consumer Protection Division, emphasized that applications for those whose accreditation expired on December 31, 2022, will be accepted until January 31, 2023.

“As mandated by Presidential Decree No. 1572, all enterprises and technical personnel employed therein engaged in the service and repair of motor vehicles, heavy equipment, engines and engineering works; electronics, electrical, air-conditioning and refrigeration; office equipment; medical and dental equipment; and other consumer industrial electro-mechanical, chemical and gaseous equipment, machinery appliances or devices, shall apply for accreditation with the Department of Trade and Industry and shall apply for renewal on or before the 31st day of January of every year thereafter,” he said.

Merla explained that Republic Act No 7394, also known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines, prohibits anyone from operating a service and repair shop or serving as technical personnel in it without first obtaining DTI accreditation.

“The accreditation of repair shops aims to ensure adequate protection to safeguard the public’s interest against unethical, unfair, and incompetent practices of service and repair enterprises,” he said.

Merla urged all repair and service business owners to apply for and renew their accreditation in order to avoid administrative fines as the DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau will continue to ensure strict compliance with the requirements through regular monitoring and enforcement activities. (DTI-Bukidnon/PIA 10-Bukidnon)