Relief in the New Year

We welcome the New Year with great anticipation, starting with an assurance that consumer concerns can be addressed once they are brought to the attention of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Our constant “bugging” of those in charge has yielded results, and we are thankful.

Our email pal, Alfonso Valenzuela, at the DTI has opened the doors for us. Now we have details on how to go about airing concerns to them. Initially the numbers to call are DTI Direct Call Center, 751-3330; and the secretary’s number for Consumer Complaints, 0917-806-3473. Two lady staff, Ethel Montemayor and Shirley Vasquez, have provided the steps, both on the consumer side and that of the department.

There are different ways to lodge a complaint – by letter, fax, email or SMS; through the telephone (landline or cell) and/or by going to the office. The Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection provides the form, which must be accomplished. Names of complainant and establishment must be provided. Date of purchase, nature of complaint, brand/model of item purchased, classification (new, second hand, surplus) must be given. Documents, receipts must be presented as evidence, plus a narration of facts. The consumer must also express how he/she would like the issue to be settled. A friend said there’s nothing like talking to “a warm body,” hence personally going to the department is suggested.

On the department side, it is said that they handle complaints with the aim of settling the dispute amicably and that they are tasked to protect the interest of the consumer. To this end, they have instituted Standards of Conduct for Business and Industry. Once a case is brought to them, it goes through a process of mediation for settlement, within the jurisdiction of the investigating body. Barring that, a formal hearing will be set per RA 7394.

Now we know where to go when we have consumer complaints and are assured that the assigned person will listen and take us seriously.

The building – right at the foot of Magallanes bridge, on the corner of EDSA and Pasong Tamo extension – that has remained unfinished and seemingly abandoned for a few decades, has come alive. It is now the Alphaland Mall with the Supermarket 8 as anchor store. The multi-storey structure is not even half-filled, although the ground floor offers quite a lot of food choices from various chains. It is here that the supermarket is located. There’s nothing unique or special about their merchandise, although the vegetables look fresh. The meat section carries Garcia’s meat, like roast pork at P230 a kilo and kasim at P203. Located on the upper floors, which are badly illuminated, are the tiangge-type garments and costume jewelry. Only a pair of male sellers were responsive to shoppers, the rest were more pre-occupied with a tete-a-tete among themselves.

They might still be there – the sellers of sweets and cakes at the Activity Center of the Ayala Town Center in Alabang. There’s Sugarhouse with an extensive array of cheesecakes (strawberry, cherry and mango), cakes and pies that include the popular marjolaine and chocolate truffle, plus sugar-free ensaymada and nutty choco, breads like banana loaf, orange raisin loaf and cookies, shortbread, chocolate chips and mango. They all come beautifully packaged at prices ranging from P75 to P1,000 plus. They also sell gift certificates. Sugarhouse has outlets in many parts of the metropolis. They can be reached through telephone no. 718-4630.

There’s the Russian cookie house. The products are not too sweet and mostly have nuts. Their Classic Cookie Selection, in window boxes (trial size, half and regular) in attractive white and brown, include pistachio, black and white almond cookies and black Russians. They’ve also got biscotti in small and medium round tin cans. The variants are cranberry pistachio, cappuccino hazelnut and almond anise. The cookies are also available in bite-size. The collection also includes sugar-free items. They are in the Podium, SM Mall of Asia and Robinsons Midtown. Call 897-1115 and 896-5707.

There’s Must be Mom’s and their special ensaymadas, sold in regular and small sizes – the former, cheddar cheese at P375 and queso de bola at P410. The ensaymaditas go from P120 to P175 (dulce de leche).

Magnolia chicken has gone scarce. We have settled for Bounty which we found to be just as clean tasting without being too game-y. Price has increased to P130 a kilo and it is still very difficult to find the big ones weighing 1.5 kilos or more. 

May all homemakers find happy moments in their chores in 2010!   

E-mail comments and questions to: [email protected].