DTI-IN joins consumer welfare month

The Department of Trade and Industry–Ilocos Norte joined the National Consumer Affairs Council in the celebration of the Consumer Welfare Month (CWM) 2013, a month-long celebration every October with the aim to empower Filipino consumers. 

The theme for this year, “Health Product Quality, Efficacy, Safety and Transparency-Everybody’s Concern,” aims to educate consumers on their right to safety which is the right to be protected against the marketing of goods or the provision of services that are hazardous to health and life.

One of the activities undertaken was the conduct of seminars in consumer awareness in various public secondary schools in the province particularly in Carasi, Sarrat, Dumalneg and Banna. 

Ilocos Norte was declared under the state of calamity on September 22, 2013 through Provincial Resolution No. 008-2013.  As one of the disaster recovery measures, the local DTI office conducted “Diskwento Caravan” in Nueva Era and Banna where basic and prime commodities were sold at discounted prices.

Destruction of substandard Christmas lights was also done in compliance to R.A. 4109 otherwise known as the Standardization Law of the Philippines and R.A. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Monitoring of Fair Trade Laws to business establishments in Batac City was also part of the celebration to determine compliance to Business Name Law, Price Tag Law, Labelling Law,  Accreditation of Repair Shop, to name a few.

The government as well as the business sector manifested their support by hanging their own streamers in their office or establishment premises to effectively promote and protect the general welfare of the consumers.

To conclude the celebration, a culmination program was held on October 30, 2013 at Laoag Renzo Hotel which was attended by various types of consumers such as students, teachers and senior citizens. Organized consumer groups, representatives from LGUs and business sector were also present. The major highlight of the program was the awarding of DTI-Bagwis Seals of Excellence headed by Regional Director Florante O. Leal to 19 deserving business establishments for upholding the rights and welfare of consumers.

Consequently, a series of lectures was also imparted to the participants to further empower them by discussing topics on I-Rice, safety tips on balikbayan boxes and facts about pyramiding scams and other related scams like through text messages.