On November 3, 2009, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued Administrative Order No. 09-09, amending the qualification requirements for consumer organizations seeking accreditation. The new criteria reduce the number of required members for national organizations from seventy to fifty, while local organizations now require at least fifteen members for municipalities and twenty-five for cities. This adjustment aims to increase the number of accredited consumer organizations, as only twenty-four out of four hundred forty-five were qualified under the previous rules. The order takes effect fifteen days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
November 3, 2009
DTI ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 09-09
SUBJECT | : | Amending Section 6 of DAO No. 10, Series of 2002, as Amended by DAO No. 7, Series of 2003 (Amending Department Administrative Order No. 16, Series of 1990 — Rules and Regulations on the Accreditation of Consumer Organizations Pursuant to Letter of Instructions No. 1337, to Include General Provisions; New Accreditation Procedures and Conditions of Accreditation; Duties and Responsibilities of Accredited Consumer Organizations; and Roles of the Department of Trade and Industry) for the Purpose of Modifying Qualification of an Applicant |
WHEREAS, pursuant to Letter of Instructions No. 1337, in order to achieve fair, orderly and enlightened hearing and/or investigation conducted by administrative or quasi-judicial bodies in matters affecting consumers, only those consumers organizations registered and accredited by the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (then Bureau of Domestic Trade) of the Department of Trade and Industry shall be allowed to participate in the proceedings; ADcSHC
WHEREAS, pursuant to the same Law, for guidance and information of consumer organizations and all others concerned, the Department of Trade and Industry issued Department Administrative Order No. 16, Series of 1990 setting forth the rules and regulations governing the accreditation of Consumer Organizations;
WHEREAS, Section 6 of Department Administrative Order No. 10, Series of 2002, provides that a consumer organization shall be categorized as National if it has at least seventy (70) individual members, and as Local with a minimum of thirty (30) individual members for municipalities and fifty (50) for cities prior to accreditation;
WHEREAS, based on the aforementioned criteria, only twenty four (24) are duly qualified and accredited by DTI out of the existing four hundred forty five (445) Consumer Organizations nationwide;
WHEREAS, DTI-Regional Offices recommended the reduction in the number of members due to failure of consumer organizations to meet the required number to qualify them for accreditation;
WHEREFORE, in consideration of the above, the following is hereby prescribed and promulgated for the compliance, guidance and information of all concerned.
SECTION 1. Section 6 of DAO No. 10, Series of 2002, as amended, is hereby modified to read as follows:
"SECTION 6. Qualification of an Applicant. —
An organization may apply for accreditation as a local or national consumer organization.
1. National Consumer Organization —
A consumer organization shall be categorized as National if it has at least fifty (50) individual members and one (1) chapter/affiliate coming from each of the three major geographical areas of the country (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao)
2. Local Consumer Organization —
A consumer organization shall be categorized as Local if it does not meet the prescribed requirements to qualify as a national consumer organization, provided, that it has at least fifteen (15) individual members for municipalities, and twenty five (25) for cities at the time of filing of application for accreditation." ESCcaT
SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. — This Order modifies DAO No. 10, Series of 2002 and other issuances which are inconsistent herewith.
SECTION 3. Effectivity. — This Department Administrative Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Makati City, Philippines, November 3, 2009.
(SGD.) PETER B. FAVILASecretary
Recommending Approval:
(SGD.) ASST. DIR. JAIME LASARO L. OLMOSDirector-in-Charge
(SGD.) ZENAIDA CUISONMAGLAYAUndersecretary