Despite the pandemic, the Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office III (DTI-3) is all set in preparing activities to celebrate Consumer Welfare Month. For this year, the CWM is aptly themed “Sustainable Consumer is the New Normal.”
Yearly, the DTI leads in the celebration of a consumer welfare month to push for a wider advocacy in disseminating appropriate and useful information for consumers and the general public on matters that affect them. The celebration also aims to foster better dialogue and collaboration between and among consumers, businessmen and the government and other stakeholders.
Among the activities that the DTI provincial and regional offices will have for 2020 are: awarding of DTI Certified Establishments or Bagwis Awards to recognize establishments faithfully following consumer laws and supporting consumer rights, holding of a series of webinars on consumer related topics such as Suggested Retail Prices (SRP), Consumer Complaints Handling, Data Privacy and Security in Cyberspace and Consumer Redress Mechanisms.
Aside from these, the CWM celebration will also include Animated Short film Competitions for youth participants on consumer related topics. Regional Director Judith P. Angeles noted that because of the pandemic, physical shooting of actors will be challenging so the DTI decided to have animated films instead. The DTI will also have an “eComics” competition to harness the creativity and artistry of college student participants who are expected to draw consumer related scenes in e-comics format. The competitions are expected to draw participants as cash prizes are in store for winners.
RD Judith P. Angeles added that they will still continue to hold Diskwento Caravans in all Central Luzon provinces during the Consumer Month to provide affordable basic needs and prime commodities to buyers. To foster dialogue and collaboration among consumer welfare stakeholders, DTI-3 is also set to hold a Consumer E-congress to gather these stakeholders online to discuss the “new normal” for consumers.
The Consumer Welfare Month is a yearly celebration held every October based on Presidential Proclamation No. 1098 signed by President Fidel V. Ramos on July 15, 1992.
