The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 2, led by Regional Director Leah Pulido Ocampo and in close partnership with various industry associations in the country kicks off today its first-ever 2024 Cagayan Valley Multi-Industry Summit in Santiago City.

The summit aims to empower businesses and consumers on the different mandatory certifications for a range of products such as the following:

1. deformed and rerolled steel bars,

2. equal leg angle steel bars,

3. steel-black and hot-dipped zinc-coated,

4. steel-black, and hot-dipped zinc-coated longitudinally welded steel pipes;

5. ceramic tiles & plumbing fixtures;

6. portland and blended hydraulic cement with pozzolan;

7. electric wires and cables; and

8. energy-consuming products (household/ electrical/ electronic products)

In her message, RD Ocampo emphasized that as we, DTI advocate to create a safe market for consumers, we also strengthen our awareness campaign for the use of AI fairly and responsibly.

She said that the arms of the law and consumer protection transcend from the physical sphere to cyberspace to safeguard our consumers. One way of effectively achieving this goal is to capacitate consumers and to raise awareness including the business sector. Making consumers aware of the dangers of AI use in the digital markets would help them protect their interests from scams and other fraudulent/criminal machinations.

Also present to grace the event were Hon. Benzai T. Chai, City Councilor and Chairperson of the Committee on Trade and Industry representing Santiago City Mayor Hon. Atty. Sheena Tan, Atty. Cyrus I. Restauro, DTI Consumer Protection Division Chief, industry experts, and business owners from across the region. Other participants were comprised of members of the academe, media, and DTI Consumer and Private Partner Organizations, and owners of Business Establishments from the Province of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Isabela.

Date of release: 13 March 2024