Happy New Year!
As we start 2015, I want to thank Undersecretary Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba, who heads the Department of Trade and Industry’s Consumer Protection Group, and the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP) for quickly and efficiently handling consumer complaints I forward to them.
Those that fall under the jurisdiction of other agencies are promptly referred to the right office, although I must say, some government units are not as quick to act on problems passed on to them by the BTRCP. Sometimes they do not even bother to acknowledge complaints.
I do not know Dimagiba personally nor anyone at BTRCP, but it is good to know there are public servants who do take their responsibilities seriously.
Candice Tiu wants to thank May Rose Francisco of the Social Security System public affairs office. Tiu’s aunt had a problem with her monthly pension but they could not get a satisfactory answer from the SSS Makati office.
After I forwarded the inquiry to the public affairs office, Tiu sent me a copy of her e-mail to Francisco, which I am excerpting.
“You have answered the questions very well… Thank you very much and I appreciate the length of explanation that you have made and also the effort in helping my case… I hope there are others like you in all SSS offices.”
As I tell people from government and commercial establishments when I get the chance, consumers are not unreasonable. Often all they need is a clear explanation and an assurance that there is a real effort to resolve their problems.
Update on high price of water
For readers wanting to know the latest on Rosebelle Roberto’s complaint of high water charges, her meeting with Manila Water Company Inc. and Filinvest Land Inc. has not yet been rescheduled.
Bong Cordova of the Customer Service Regulation unit of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office reiterated what he said in an earlier e-mail that the problem had been “referred to the Metering Efficiency Department (MED), which is under the Customer Service Regulation Area of the MWSS Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO).”
He said the reset “conference meeting is our method of resolving a complaint through a conciliation process in which MWSS-RO acts as mediator between the disputing parties, which, in this case, is Ms Roberto and MWCI (Manila Water).”
He said the meeting did not push through as scheduled because Roberto said MWCI requested “to defer the meeting until they come up with a solution to the complaint…”
Hopefully, after the season of cheer and goodwill, there will be enough positive feelings left to bring a fast and speedy resolution to the problem that will make everybody happy.
Garden show
Many local governments are cutting down trees supposedly to promote development that will be good for us. I personally believe fresh, clean air is better for me than another humungous shopping mall.
But since ordinary citizens’ opinion seems not to matter to people we elected into office, let us help ourselves by planting as many plants as our space will allow.
Add to your greenery by visiting Horticultura Extravaganza on Jan. 23- Feb. 3 at Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.
Organized by the Philippine Horticultural Society, Inc., the show, which is chaired by club president Dorie Bernabe, is part of the celebration of Quezon City’s 75th anniversary.
Show theme is “Yaman sa Paghahalaman.” It aims to demonstrate that propagating plants can be more than just a hobby but can also be a livelihood. Aside from landscape and plant exhibits and competitions, there will be lecture-demonstrations and a floral float parade with street dancing.
Send letters to The Consumer, Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1098 Chino Roces Ave. cor. Mascardo and Yague Sts., 1204 Makati City; fax 8974793/94; or e-mail lbolido @inquirer.com.ph.