ILOILO City – To raise awareness of the basic consumer rights, duties and responsibilities, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Iloilo will hold a series of advocacy activities in line with Consumer Welfare Month (CWM), celebrated every October.
DTI-Iloilo director Ma. Dinda R. Tamayo said they want to give importance to consumers by informing them of the assistance and programs of the government for them.
“It’s us giving back to the consumers. We want to package and let them know of our assistance being in the DTI so that we can also share with them and emphasize that we are helping, and it is our mandate that we empower consumers,” said Tamayo in a press conference yesterday.
The eight basic rights of consumers Tamayo was referring to are the right to basic needs, the right to safety, the right to information, the right to choose, the right to representation, the right to redress, the right to consumer education, and the right to a healthy environment.
With this, DTI-Iloilo will hold advocacy activities in selected municipalities.
* Oct. 6 – Concepcion
* Oct. 12 – Lambunao
* Oct. 20 – Zarraga
Aside from this, there will be weekly postings about CWM on social media.
There will be a Product Standards Corner during the Artesanias de Iloilo Trade Fair on Oct. 11 in the Activity Center, SM City Iloilo.
In line with the Social Media and Infomercial Making Contest on Oct. 15, the agency called on enthusiasts and students who love to showcase their creativity and prowess on social media.
Entries may be sent through DTI-ILOILO Facebook Messenger or to kurtmauricetugaff@dti.gov.ph no later than Oct. 11, 2023.
Contest winners will have the following prices:
* first place – P3,000
* second place – P2,000
* third place – P1,500
* fourth and fifth places – P1,000
Plus, five winners of a P500 gift certificate each as a token of appreciation.
DTI encourages MSMEs to promote healthy environment
This year’s CWM celebration is themed “GenS: Generation Sustainable,” which emphasizes putting the 7Rs of sustainability into action and making a lasting impact on our planet. The 7Rs are: rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle, and repair.
With this, the DTI encouraged micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the city and province of Iloilo to develop “greening programs.”
Ma. Dorita D. Chavez, Senior Trade Industry Development Specialist and officer-in-charge division chief of DTI-Iloilo, said they wanted MSMEs to integrate activities that help care for the environment.
“Considering our situation and the unstable weather, amo na sia nga gina-advise naton — activities to help regulate or minimize our environmental impacts,” Chavez said./PN
