BAGUIO CITY(PIA) — As the nation observes Consumer Welfare Month this October, the Department of Trade and Industry-Cordillera (DTI-CAR) reminds the public anew that as consumers they have their basic rights that they need to assert.
DTI-CAR Assistant Regional Director Atty. Samuel Gallardo, in a recent Kapihan media forum here, highlighted the importance of this year’s CWM celebration, “Be Smart, Assert Your Consumer Right” encouraging Filipino consumers to be informed and assertive of their rights for their protection and welfare.
“To be Smart, napaka-importante po that they look into understanding what product warranties are, what relief is available kung sakali na meron unsatisfactory service or defective product na nabibili ang ating consumers,” Gallardo said.
Aside from being smart and being informed, consumers should also be assertive to ensure that our rights are not violated by unscrupulous businessmen or even by fellow consumers, he added.
Gallardo enumerated the basic rights of consumers, namely; the right to basic needs, right to safety, right to information, right to choose, right to consumer education, right to redress, right to representation, and the right to healthy environment.
“Basic needs are the consumer’s right to food, clothing and shelter at reasonable rates and at reasonable qualities; Safety means that when a consumer buys a particular product, it will not cause you any harm, or if there is harm or danger in using the product then it should be addressed. Next is the right for Information coming from manufacturers informing you about the contents of the products by providing labels to give the consumers the right for informed choice. Then the range of products coming from different manufacturers as something we enjoy as a free market pertains to Choice.”
“For your right to consumer education which is now being exercised by having us talk to you about your basic rights; then the right to redress means finding relief for a problem (such as buying defective product or unsatisfactory service),” Gallardo explained.
Highlighting the CWM celebration is the regional program on October 16 which will include the conferment of the Bagwis Awards to deserving business establishments and the recognition of consumer organizations in Baguio City and Benguet.
Proclamation No. 1098 signed by then President Fidel Ramos in 1997 declares the month of October of every year as Consumer Welfare Month to promote consumer awareness and disseminate consumer information to both the public and private sectors on policies and programs affecting consumer welfare. (JDP/CCD with Betha Servito, PIA CAR-SLU Intern)
