DTI promotes better digital world for consumers
The Department of Trade and Industry- Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB), in partnership with the Consumers International, conducted the World Consumer Rights Day ((WCRD) 2017: Building Digital World Consumers Can Trust as a way of joining the global campaign of building better digital world that promotes access, participation, and innovation that is good for consumers, the economy, and the society. Held last 15 March 2017 at the Robinson’s Galleria, Quezon City, the WCRD is an annual occasion, which highlights consumer rights issues and brings together the global consumer movement to make lasting changes to people around the world.
Today, digital technologies have a dramatic impact on consumers globally, providing benefits such as better communication, access to information, and convenience. It is believed that by 2020, 52% of the world’s population will be online. Along with the benefits are the questions about establishing access to the Internet for many consumers who are not connected, improving the quality of services, finding out which online services and products consumers can trust, and knowing what happens to the data they share online.
“This is the first time that the Philippines has participated in the World Consumer Rights Day. This year’s theme is relevant and timely as it stresses the importance of having a better digital environment that is secured and accessible to consumers,” said CPAB OIC and Assistant Director Lilian G. Salonga during her welcome remarks.
To commence the program, the Batangas High School for Culture and Arts entertained the audience through their winning performance in last year’s Region IV-A Tanghalang Pangmamimili— a skit/play contest performed by different high schools within the region to increase awareness on the consumer protection laws and the importance of consumerism and the salient features of the Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines. It is an initiative of DTI CALABARZON as part of the Consumer Welfare Month Celebration.
Because of its success in educating consumers in a captivating way, Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Undersecretary Teodoro C. Pascua announced its plan to launch “Dulaang Mamimili,” a nationwide contest to influence the youth, especially the students, to be informed of their rights and responsibilities as consumers and apply them.
During the celebration, important topics were discussed by the following speakers: Mr. Mark Joseph Panganiban, Director of Digital Commerce Association of the Philippines (DCOM), on e-commerce and business ethics and trends in online shopping; Mr. Martini Cruz, Supervising Agent of the Cyber Crime Division in the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), on tips to avoid online shopping fraud or scam; and Ms. Maria Crispina Reodica, Chief Trade-Industry Development Specialist of the DTI E-Commerce Office, on the development and promotion of e-commerce in the Philippines.
“We are now living in this generation where everyone can access the Internet anytime and anywhere. Everything is fast-paced, and these millennials are always on the go and more tech-savvy. There is no stopping in the growth of digital age. Thus, it is necessary to heighten the protection and empowerment of our consumers,” Usec. Pascua emphasized.