In the interest of public service and in line with the policy of the state to protect the interest of the consumers and promote his general welfare, and in order to arrive at a speedy and immediate solutions and remedies to the effective enforcement of the Consumer Act of the Philippines (RA 7394) and the Price Act (RA 7581) and their respective implementing rules and regulations, all Regional Directors of the National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC) of this Department, are hereby deputized as duly authorized representatives of the Department of Agriculture to implement the provisions of the above-cited consumer protection laws with respect to products falling within the jurisdiction of the NMIC, more particularly meat and meat products, whether processed and unprocessed.

For this purpose, all NMIC Regional Directors are directed to monitor/check compliance with the requirements set forth by the above-cited laws and its IRR, including but not limited to product quality and safety, product labelling, advertising and promotion, price tag, reasonable pricing and consumer complaints.

All complaints involving violations of the Consumer Act shall be mediated and/or arbitrated, as the case may be, pursuant to Joint DTI-DOH-DA Administrative Order No. 1, dated December 27, 1993, implementing Chapter III of RA 7394. Outside of the Consumer Act, complaints shall be addressed accordingly.

All NMIC Regional Directors are hereby further directed to make a periodic written report of the extent of the enforcement of the order to the Office of the Executive Director.

This Order is hereby confirmed, made of record and takes effect immediately upon its approval and shall remain in force until revoked.

Adopted: 24 Mar. 1998

(SGD.) SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO III
Secretary

Recommending Approval:

(SGD.) MANUEL D. ROCHA
Executive Director NMIC