Baking firm charged for ignoring NSO survey

FOR failing to answer a survey for business establisments two years ago, a Cebu-based baking company was charged in court  by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in Central Visayas.

“We gave  them enough time to fill up the questionnaire, sent them three letters and tried to explain the importance of this survey but they didn’t do anything about it, ” NSO District Statistical Officer Baby Premne said yesterday.

NSO said only Cebu Golden Buns Corp., whose office is in barangay Lahug, Cebu City  and is y a sister company of Anita’s Bakery, refused to participate in the survey among all business establishments in Cebu.

Premne said the company even told them to file the case because they had  lawyers to defend them.

The NSO official said the company was charged for violating Commonwealth Act 591  which authorizes the NSO to collect information on social economic data as required by the national government.

Participants of the sampling surveys were chosen by NSO’S nationwide computer system.

Any person who fails or refuses to answer the questionnaires within 30 days upon receipt will be fined at least P600 or serve imprisonment or both depending on the court’s discretion.

Premne said NSO also charged  two business establishments in 2008 but they dropped the case after the companies agreed to complete the surveys.

“Their lawyers immedietly went to the office and apologized. They also filled up the questionnaire so we didin’t pursue the case.“ Premne told Cebu Daily News.

The pre-trial conference of the case of  NSO and Cebu Golden Buns is scheduled tomorrow at Branch 4 of the Municipal Trial Court (MTC). Correspondent Careen L. Malahay