TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will distribute 274 weighing scales in all the six cities and selected towns in the region to protect consumers’ welfare by ensuring that they get their money’s worth. DTI Regional Director Cynthia Nierras said the government will complete the distribution of “timbangan ng bayan” in the region within the year. The project is funded by the House of Representatives. “With these calibrated weighing scales, consumers will now have the means to check the weight of goods they are buying and protect them from any manipulation,” Nierras said. New weighing scales have already been shipped to the region, but the DTI is still waiting for the delivery of steel cages to kick off the distribution. “It is free from manipulations by vendors since only the market superintendent can open the cage. This will eradicate the problem of short-selling or short-weighing of some vendors,” Nierras added. The region has 143 cities and towns, but the DTI will distribute 274 sets since there are areas with bigger trading centers and more than one public market. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO)
