TARLAC CITY (PIA) — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Tarlac and the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office of Tarlac City have partnered to strengthen consumer education among learners through the Project Consumer Advancement on Consumer Awareness, Development, Voice, Organization, Collaboration, Action, Transparency, and Empowerment (ADVOCATE).
DTI Tarlac Provincial Director Florencia Balilo explained that Project Consumer ADVOCATE is a school- and community-based consumer education initiative that promotes awareness of consumer rights and responsibilities, encourages responsible purchasing behavior, and fosters active participation in consumer protection.
“Through Consumer ADVOCATE, we bring consumer education closer to the learners. Consumer awareness, when nurtured early, becomes a mindset, a habit, and eventually, a way of life,” she said.
Balilo added that the knowledge learners gain through the initiative can be shared with their families and communities, creating a ripple effect that further strengthens consumer protection.
Under a Memorandum of Agreement, DTI and DepEd will work together to implement various consumer education activities that integrate consumer education into school and community engagements.
These activities include advocacy campaigns, learning sessions, teacher capability-building programs, and other initiatives aimed at promoting consumer awareness among learners and the wider community.
Aligned with the government’s efforts under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to promote consumer welfare and protection, the initiative seeks to enhance learners’ awareness and empower them to become informed, responsible, and active consumers while fostering a culture of consumer protection in schools and local communities. (CLJD/AJRR, PIA Region 3-Tarlac)
