On 18 March 2022, the Department of Trade and Industry Region 2 (DTI-R2) convened the regional line agencies with consumer protection mandates to revive the region’s Consumer Network (ConsumerNet).
In the preliminaries, Atty. Cyrus I. Restauro, OIC-Chief of the Consumer Protection Division, emphasized the necessity of the ConsumerNet to address consumer complaints and concerns. He added that with the ConsumerNet, the agencies would have a more collaborative platform for the speedy resolution of complaints and implementation of programs or projects to advance consumer protection.
During the meeting, Rashid Bautista gave a refresher on the ConsumerNet and the plans for the network and areas of cooperation of all member agencies.
Atty. Restauro also introduced the “Social Media Policing” Program, a pet project of the DTI-R2, which is geared to monitor online sellers on their compliance with the fair-trade laws in online transactions.
With the growing number of cybercrimes as consumers maximize the use of digital applications in their day-to-day transactions, PLt. Col. Crisanto Carag of the Regional Anti-CyberCrime Unit (RACU) of Philippine National Police (PNP) PRO Police Regional Office R2 discussed their procedure in enforcing anti-cybercrime laws.
In attendance were Region 2 regional offices of the PNP RACU, Department of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Cagayan Valley Center for Health Development (CV-CHD) Department of Health (DOH), Department of Information and Communications (DICT) Cagayan, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Department of Agriculture (DA) National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cagayan Valley Regional Office (CAVRO) and DA Agri Marketing Assistance (AMAD). All agencies avowed to ink a memorandum of understanding to fully formalize this collaborative undertaking. ♦
Date of Release: 29 March 2022