Key officers and members of Persons With Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) has taken a step forward to form a legitimate consumer organization after undergoing a consumer education seminar recently conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry – Lanao del Norte Provincial Office.

Mr. Jerson L. Tanghian, the current Head of PDAO – Iligan and also the President of PWD of Iligan Federated Organization or PIFO, has expressed his commitment in behalf of the group to pursue the accreditation of PIFO as a consumer organization primarily representing and being the voice of PWD on consumer-related issues and concerns particularly in the implementation of RA 9442 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, and Other Purposes.

He said, “As members of our society, the law grants us with the rights and privileges to improve our well-being yet some irresponsible people are depriving a great number of PWD of these benefits, and worst, the PWD are just being passive or submissive to these malpractices. And this should be brought to the attention of the proper authorities for their appropriate actions.”

A Consumer Organization is an organized group of consumers where membership is voluntary and whose primary objective is to protect consumers against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable trade acts and practices and other acts or omissions prejudicial or detrimental to the interests of consumers.

Consumer Organizations are being accredited to ensure that the consumer sector is represented by legitimate consumer organizations in hearings and/or investigations, and in government policy-making bodies.