DTI 11: World Consumer Rights Day’s theme crucial in today’s situation

DAVAO CITY – The theme of this year’s World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) is crucial in the current situation, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 said.

The WCRD is coordinated by Consumers International and is celebrated every March 15 of the year to reinforce consumer awareness of their rights and responsibilities. This is to continuously empower and protect them against price manipulation and other malpractices in the purchase of goods and services, especially this time of digitalized transactions.

The celebration carries different themes yearly, and for 2022, it banners “Fair Digital Finance”. This is in line with the global consumer advocacy movement that calls for fair practices related to financial services.

DTI 11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi said the movement will generate new consumer-centered insights and campaign for digital finance that is inclusive, safe, data protected and private, and sustainable.

Digital finance is the term used to describe the impact of new technologies on the financial services industry, especially this time of the pandemic. It includes a variety of online platforms that have transformed the traditional way of financial services into online or cashless transactions. However, this year’s celebration does not only focus on digitalization but also includes a consumer education campaign on topics related to the management and prevention of the spread of COVID-19, and laws on product standards (PS). According to the local trade chief, these are important for the consumers to become wise and well-informed on the safest way of living in the new normal.

“As we take part in this movement, our consumer protection divisions in the regional and provincial offices have lined up several activities in celebration of the World Consumer Rights Day. We want to take this opportunity to step up our campaign to protect the consumers further, especially now that almost everything is done online or virtually,” she said.

Ambi added that technology has been a major contributor in helping countries continue with economic activities amid the limitations brought by the pandemic. Nevertheless, consumer protection must be considered at all times.

In line with this, the DTI 11 Consumer Protection Division (CPD) actively promotes the weekly webinars organized by the DTI-Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB). The division likewise organized another one on fair trade digital finance to be held on March 16. In the meantime, the provincial offices will have their respective PS Orientation Caravan, to wit: March 4 in Davao del Sur; March 10 in Davao Occidental; March 22 in Davao Oriental; and March 25 in Davao de Oro.

“As various digital platforms sustain their growth, there are concerns, too, that some consumers have relayed. There are those who feel that their personal information could be at risk if they transact online. Hence, we need to implement measures to increase their confidence,” Ambi noted.

“We have to help enhance the consumers literacy on the information and communication technology, provide updates on the COVID-19 health protocols, and laws on product standards. We need to intensify our consumer advocacy initiatives to increase consumer awareness for their safety and protection,” she concluded.

For clarifications, the public may contact DTI 11 through its official Facebook page, DTI Region 11.