The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 12 has issued Notice of Violation (NOV) to 23 unaccredited service and repair enterprises (SREs) on intensified efforts to protect consumers from unscrupulous businesses. According to DTI Region 12 statement, the office conducted a two-day operation on April 18-19 inspecting a total of 32 SREs in General Santos City. Twelve SREs were issued NOVs and were given 48 hours to submit their written explanation or personally appear to rebut the findings to the head of DTI with jurisdiction to their area of operations. DTI Region 12 official Flora Politud Gabunales, emphasized the importance for the SREs to be accredited to as mandated by existing laws. “Accreditation is a legal recognition that service and repair establishments and their technical personnel have complied with the requirements of the law and fulfilled the basic requirements of the industry for their operation and are therefore reliable and competent to practice the trade. By doing so, we guarantee the safety of the general public,” said Politud-Gabunales. Presidential Decree No. 1572 and Republic Act 7394, also known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines, mandating DTI as responsible for regulating SREs to ensure the public is protected from unethical, unfair, and incompetent practices by SREs as well as protect reliable and competent SREs from malpractices that may harm their good reputation and established standing. Presidential Decree 1572 stipulates that all technical personnel and enterprises in the service and repair industry must apply for accreditation from the DTI. This accreditation is valid from the date of issuance until December 31st of the same calendar year, and failure to renew accreditation after the deadline will result in a 25 percent surcharge and administrative fees. During the first quarter monitoring and enforcement conducted by DTI 12, a total of 42 establishments were inspected.