DAVAO CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11, through its Consumer Protection Division, has inked a pact with SM Supermalls in strengthening its consumer advocacy program.

On 30 July 2021, the agency and retail giant signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for their partnership in the “Konsyumer, Sagot Kita!” consumer advocacy program. This aims to create and disseminate readily accessible consumer-related informational materials in the form of video clips and social media cards. This MOU is valid from 1 August 2021 – 31 July 2022.

DTI-R11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi showed utmost optimism about the project, especially after getting the support of SM Supermalls, which has two branches in Davao City. 

“It has been our commitment to continuously empower consumers. By partnering with SM Supermalls, we will surely widen the reach of these informational materials,” the DTI official said, adding that the partnership is seen to intensify its advocacy on educating and protecting the consumers. 

Under their MOU, the DTI-R11 will provide various information materials to be posted by SM Supermalls on their company’s official Facebook accounts. 

Meanwhile, DTI-R11 will assist them by regularly educating their employees and tenants on the rules and regulations affecting consumer rights and responsibilities, and other related Fair Trade Laws governing business operation in the country. Both parties are hopeful that this campaign can be innovated in the future to have an interactive way of reaching consumers despite the pandemic.

Ambi was grateful to SM Supermalls for accepting the partnership with DTI 11and for the commitment to help the agency in promoting consumer awareness. 

“Even in this time of the pandemic, we still need to intensify our consumer awareness program and empower consumers on their rights and responsibilities. 

Thus, we are intensifying our information campaign through the use of online platforms to reach more consumers,” she said.

The one-year partnership is an opportunity for both DTI-R11 and SM Supermalls to work closely in providing the right information to the public, especially the consumers. ♦

Date of Release: 23 August 2021