The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 2, led by Regional Director (RD) Leah Pulido Ocampo, commenced the 2021 Consumer Welfare Month Celebration today via Zoom and Facebook Live.
This year’s celebration with the theme, “Digital Consumers: The New Normal” aims to enhance consumers’ knowledge and skills on their use of the internet and technology with the emergence of online transactions and as a safer means of communication.
“Digital transformation drastically changed the way consumers behave this pandemic. Trade and businesses have digitalized, online platforms have proliferated, and now the more preferred means for consumers to purchase goods and services. But consumers are highly exposed to fraudulent acts and unconscionable business practices, scams, and other cybercrimes. While digitalization has opened development opportunities, it is our role to capacitate ourselves to adapt to the new normal and minimize the risk that this digital age has carried along. Consumer protection is not a unilateral mechanism from the government but accountability of the entire society carried out with awareness, consciousness, and respect for our consumer rights and responsibilities,” said RD Ocampo in her opening message.
Consumer and private organizations also joined the kick-off activity and delivered their message of support in the celebration of Consumer Welfare Month.
Furthermore, participants were enjoined to actively take part in the following activities for the month-long celebration: vlogging competition, Webinar on Enforcement of Cyber-related laws by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); webinar on Cyber-Security for Everyone in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on 14 October 2021; webinar on Data Privacy and Online Shopping in partnership with NPC on 21 October 2021; and webinar on Digital Platforms Redress Mechanism in partnership with a well-known online platform on 28 October 2021.
“Consumer Welfare Month Celebration will be a perfect opportunity to pursue the protection and welfare of every consumer. Thus, the kick-off activity only marks the start of the long month celebration. Other lined-up activities of DTI in partnership with other government agencies will be an avenue to discuss the different issues revolving around digital security and provide address mechanism to give justice to the rights of consumers,” said Atty. Cyrus I. Restauro, Officer-In-Charge of the Consumer Welfare Division, DTI R2 in his closing message.
Consumer and private organizations, national government agencies, local government units, members from the academe, and junior and high school students graced the kick-off event. ♦
Date of Release: 1 October 2021