Robinsons Supermarkets and Easymarts dominated this year’s Bagwis Awards of the Department of Trade and Industry, which recognizes efforts by establishments in upholding the rights and welfare of consumers and practicing responsible business.
Forty five Robinsons Supermarkets and Easmarts out of 52 accredited establishments garnered the highest recognition in this year’s awards.
The supermarket chain also snagged back-to-back awards as three of their supermarkets garnered the gold last 2020.
“The DTI Bagwis recognition makes us proud here at Robinsons and is a testament of our commitment to serve only the best to our customers, and continue to deliver high level of service, and always put consumers’ welfare first,” said Managing Director for Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI) – Supermarket Segment Stanley C Co.
Atty. Marcus Valdez II, who was recently appointed director of the Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau, together with Undersecretary of the Consumer Protection Group Atty. Ruth Castelo, led this year’s recognition.
Also recognized for this year’s gold awards are six Abenson branches and Metro Market! Market! in
Majority of the 2021 awardees hailed from Region 4A, beating the National Capital Region that topped last year.
Twenty-six institutions were also acknowledged from last year’s awards as the event proper was postponed due to the on-going pandemic, which include Canon Marketing Philippines, Toyota, Isuzu, Honda Cars, Sanford Marketing Corp, Pandayan Bookshop and Wheels Inc.
Streamed via Zoom and in the DTI Consumer Care Facebook page, over 500 guests tuned in to the first virtual run of the Bagwis Awards that continues to recognize establishments committed to responsible and ethical business practices.
The program began with a welcome message delivered by the Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Atty. Ruth B. Castelo, followed by a keynote message from the DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.
Before the presentation of the awards, Co was joined by the Director for Digital Commerce Association of the Philippines, Mark Joseph Panganiban, where they delivered keynote messages on managing business and customer satisfaction as well as digital transformation of businesses in the new normal. Both answered queries from the audience during the open forum.
Eligibility requirements for the Bagwis Awards include registration with the Department of Trade and Industry (for sole proprietorship), the Securities and Exchange Commission (for corporations and partnerships) or the Cooperative Development Authority (for cooperatives) that have been operating for over a year; must be registered with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and compliant with the SSS, Phil-Health and PAG-IBIG, must be licensed to engage in the business as applied before the local government unit, must have no pending case for violation of any consumer and trade laws and must have a functional consumer welfare desk (CWD) or its equivalent.
The categories include supermarkets, department stores, specialty stores, appliance centers, hardware stores, convenience stores and DTI-accredited service and repair shops.
Assistant Director for the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau Atty. Cheryl G. Carbonell further presented the proposed revisions of the Implementing Guidelines of Bagwis Awards, which include senior citizens and persons with disabilities’ inclusiveness and promoting sustainable consumption and production (SCP).
The program is concluded by messages of support from Atty. Paul Santos, Chairman of the Philippine Retailers Association and a National Bagwis Committee Member, Atty. Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba, AB., LLB President of the Laban Konsyumer Inc, Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Blesila A. Lantayona and words of inspiration from Sen. Cynthia Villar, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.
“We in DTI believe that this Bagwis Awards Program is one way to achieve our mission to enable business and empower consumers,” Lantayona said. “We look forward to seeing more and more business establishments gravitating to this program and conferred with the Bagwis award. Let us together make this our goal for a better and more progressive
The 2021 Bagwis Awards proper falls in line with the Consumer Welfare Month that is celebrated every October.