DTI Spearheads Consumer Welfare Month Celebration

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to celebrate the Consumer Welfare Month (CWM) this October.

Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1098 series of 1997, CWM is celebrated to campaign further the protection of the interest of consumers and to promote their general welfare.

This year’s CWM celebration is themed “Making Digital Marketplaces Fairer”, with DTI acting as the lead agency, in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Agriculture (DA), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Health (DOH).

During a press conference, DTI-7 Regional Director Asteria Caberte explained that this year’s theme calls for access to fair and secure internet for all, action against scams and fraud, and better consumer protection online.

“Our celebration this year aims to level up our consumer protection and in targeting online fraud, especially in this age, when there is a big change in the trading sector,” Caberte said.

The shift in the mode of trading. What Caberte means is the prevalent use of online selling, whether through social media sites or online shops.

Meanwhile, Caberte admitted that it has been tough for DTI in countering fraud business online as they do not have complete jurisdiction over it.

DTI however established a group composed of government agencies tasked to investigate online scams and fraud called Consumer Net which is headed by the Consumer Protection Division of DTI.

“For as long as these online stores have physical stores or addresses, complains can be resolved easier by Consumer Net,” Caberte added.

Consumer Net links all concerned government agencies to make sure that there will be no more unanswered concerns and to level up their communication to the public regarding consumer welfare.

The advocacy of this event is incorporated in the various DTI activities lined-up in Central Visayas for implementation during the month-long celebration.

The CWM celebration will culminate with the announcement of winners in the “Dulaang Pangmamimili” contests for students. (Jan Karla Madrio/PIA7)