Davao City – To continuously educate and provide services to the consumers and business owners, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 will finally bring its virtual consultation program on site.
The Konsyumer Sagot Kita (KSK) program is a consumer education campaign in the form of audio-visual presentations that the agency releases regularly through its social media platforms. It aims to heighten the public’s awareness of consumer-related laws and policies in an avenue accessible to most Filipinos and in a creative manner that draws interest among its socmed followers. It was launched in 2020 in a bid to continue with its mandate on consumer empowerment and protection amid the pandemic.
DTI 11 Regional Director (RD) Maria Belenda Q. Ambi shared that since the health situation of the city has already improved, the office is grabbing the opportunity to provide a free consultation with consumers in a face-to-face setting on 12 April 2022, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at SM City Davao (Ecoland) Supermarket.
“This activity is an on-site consultation with walk-in consumers who want to raise concerns and learn more about their rights and responsibilities in accordance with Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, and other Fair Trade Laws affecting their safety and protection as consumers,” Ambi explained.
As the initial run of such an initiative, the agency has tied up with SM City Davao being its long-time partner in consumer advocacy and the Consumer Corner Project, which provides shoppers with ready access to DTI consumer-related information materials. Hence, it will be conducted at the mall’s supermarket area.
Apart from the on-site consultation with the mall-goers, the KSK will also be an opportunity for DTI11 to update the personnel of SM City Davao on the FTLs as required by the Consumer Corner Memorandum of Agreement between the agency and the private firm.
“We want this activity to make the consumers wiser, more vigilant and empowered. It will reinforce as well our Consumer Corner program, which works in partnership with business establishments. We do this to strengthen and promote consumer welfare and protection by providing a standee that is strategically located at the supermarket area where consumers can gain access to consumer-related information materials of DTI,” the local trade official said.
In line with this commitment to protect the welfare of consumers and get the best value for their hard-earned money, the KSK activity will be led by DTI 11’s legal officer, Dianne Bay Grado. The other technical personnel of the agency’s regional consumer protection division will also be around to assist.
Ambi expressed optimism that through the KSK, DTI 11 can intensify further its consumer education campaign to increase the level of awareness and understanding of both the consumers and businesses owners of the existing government rules and regulations.
“When consumers are well-informed and the business establishments are compliant, our economic situation will improve, since more consumers will patronize the products and services of compliant establishments which would mean increase in sales,” Ambi concluded. ♦
Date of Release: 06 April 2022