DTI promotes consumers as green multipliers

OROQUIETA CITY--The observation of the Consumer Welfare Month of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is anchored on the promotion of exigent environmental management to help impede climate change and the global warming phenomenon.

Delia Ayano, provincial officer of the DTI, said the environmental management is contained in a memorandum from National Consumers Affairs Council (NCAC) Officer-in-Charge Victorio Mario Dimagiba who is also the Director of the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP).

With the theme "Consumers: Green Multipliers," Ayano said the celebration is anchored on the key policy of the government to protect the environment and to adopt appropriate measures to promote and ensure proper environmental management.

In keeping with the theme, Ayano said the NCAC and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as the lead agency, in cooperation with all implementers of Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines, are joining forces in encouraging the consumers take the vital role in the overall implementation of environmental management programs by possibly acting as 'change agents' in various areas.

These areas are: promotion of the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) of the Ecological Solid Waste Management; promotion of clean air; water conservation; electricity conservation; greening campaigns and movements; and, disaster preparedness and management response.

"There is a greater need to empower consumers by way of educating them, in trying to mainstream in their daily lives the imperative need to promote environmental awareness," Ayano said.

"The major objective here and the key factor is unifying and orchestrating our efforts, as consumers, towards promoting and or building a healthy and sound environment, because one of the basic consumer rights is the right to a healthy environment. And as consumers being stewards of Planet Earth, we have our shared responsibility to protect the environment," she added.

She said there are eight basic consumer rights and responsibilities and as the saying goes "a well-informed and vigilant consumer is the best consumer."

"We should not be drifted into action. Every consumer should play his or her own role for the upkeep of our environment to become effective green multipliers," she said.

The DTI provincial office with the support from the local government unit of Oroquieta City, has lined-up various consumer-related activities for the month-long celebration of the consumer welfare month, Ayano said.

These include the hanging of streamers, consumer briefings, and consumer’s forum and seminars, among others, Ayano said.(NEPTALIE BATOLENIO)