VYING FOR THE BAGWIS AWARD. Engineer Edwin Eraga, who owns EDE Engineering Services that is vying for the Department of Trade and Industry's Bagwis Gold Award, presents his business profile to the regional evaluators on Oct. 9, 2020. The DTI-Antique said three MSMEs have emerged as regional qualifiers for the much-coveted award. (Photo courtesy of DTI-Antique)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Three micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the province of Antique were able to hurdle the regional evaluation for the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) Bagwis Award.
The recognition is given to businesses that uphold the rights of consumers and make sure they get value for their money.
Engineer Edwin Eraga, who owns the EDE Engineering Services, one of the three regional qualifiers, said in an interview on Friday that he was glad his business was able to pass the regional evaluation last week.
“I am just now waiting for the endorsement of my application for the Bagwis Gold Award to the national evaluation committee,” Eraga said.
He said he applied for the Bagwis Gold Award because his business, an air-conditioning service, and repair shop, was a Silver Awardee in 2018.
“The Bagwis award will be historic because it will be the first for the province of Antique under the service and repair category,” Eraga said.
Winning the award will also be for the community's upliftment, he said, noting that EDE Engineering Services is only based in a small province.
Glen Fernando, Trade and Industry Development Specialist of DTI-Antique, said during a media press conference on Thursday that the three chosen MSMEs underwent rigid DTI regional evaluation, which they were able to pass.
“The MSMEs that are Bagwis regional qualifiers this year are the EDE Engineering Services, J Marketing Corp. - Antique Branch, and the F and E Enterprise,” he said.
Fernando said J Marketing, an appliance store, and F and E Enterprise, an automotive service and repair shop, applied for the first time for the Bagwis Bronze Award.
He said the bronze and silver awards are conferred by the regional evaluation committee while the gold award is conferred by the national evaluation committee.
“The gold award is the highest Bagwis Award conferred to a business of good standing,” Fernando said.
He recalled that since the presentation of the Bagwis Award began in 2006, only two business establishments in the province have earned the gold award due to the many parameters being considered by the evaluators.
“Among the parameters are the MSMEs having the necessary Mayor’s Permit, Bureau of Internal Revenue registration, compliance with the Fair Trade Laws, corporate social responsibility, and has the proper solid waste management or the green program,” Fernando said. (PNA)
