DTI-2 celebrates the World Consumer Rights Day 2019 with the theme “Trusted Smart Products: Pinagkakatiwalaang Produkto para sa Mamimiling Pilipino” on 13-15 March 2019 through the conduct of Technical Forum on Data Security and Matalinong Konsyumer Challenge in Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, Cagayan and Batanes.

In the current context, more and more people have been using smart gadgets, thereby facilitating exchanges of data from one gadget to another. Smart gadgets enable the flow of data to transcend borders across the world and make people virtually connected with one another. Alongside this great feature are the possible issues that people may experience through the usage of smart gadgets such as breaches of data privacy, data leaks, and online scams.   The technical fora organized by the DTI Regional and Provincial Offices aimed to educate the participants on how to be safe when dealing with internet connectivity; while the Matalinong Konsyumer served as a recap game for the participants regarding their learnings during the forum.  The fora were conducted in Batanes National Science High School in Basco, Batanes; Tuguegarao West High School, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan;  Saint Ferdinand College, City of Ilagan, Isabela; Nueva Vizcaya General Comprehensive High School, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; and, Quirino General High School, Diffun, Quirino.   Seven hundred sixty-seven junior and senior high school from these schools attended with the breakdown as follows: Batanes -100; Cagayan – 122; Isabela -143; Nueva Vizcaya – 225; and Quirino – 177.

Every 15th of March is designated as “World Consumer Rights Day” to highlight the importance of consumer rights and the protection of consumers against market abuses and social injustices.♦

Date of release: 1 April 2019