By Rodrigo S. Victoria

Naval, Biliran (9 October) –- The personnel of the provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here seem to be very busy at present as the office has calendared the whole month of October with different activities in line with the consumer welfare month celebration.

Engr. Celerina B. Barrot, Officer-In-Charge of DTI-Biliran said during the PIA Kapihan today that the DTI provincial office has scheduled different activities that would serve the best interest of the public consumers especially in the enforcement of their rights which is the focus of this year’s celebration.

The National Consumers Welfare Council, a policy-making body composed of several national government agencies which formulates policies and regulations regarding the benefit and welfare of the Filipino consumers has come-up “Enforcing Consumer Rights Towards a Progressive Philippines” as this year’s theme of the consumer’s welfare month celebration, Barrot said.

She said that the council has chosen DTI as the lead agency for this year’s celebration and that was one of the reasons for the agency to exert its best efforts in giving the public consumers worthwhile activities to avail of.

The DTI-Biliran chief revealed that the office has started the first activity as early as September 30 by hanging streamers printed with the theme in the different conspicuous places in the community in order for the public to be aware of the celebration.

This was followed by a motorcade on October 2 where business establishments in Naval have sent representatives to join the affair including the national government agencies involved in the celebration, she added.

Barrot further said that the DTI personnel in-charge with the consumer welfare has conducted a three-day Fair Trade Law enforcement, monitoring/operation timbangan in the public market and stores in the municipality of Naval from October 3 to 5.

In order to give the widest information campaign about the celebration, a radio appearance at PIA Kapihan at Radyo Natin-Naval was held today to give the public consumers the different information regarding their rights and other important things relative to the celebration. This was attended by representatives of the different line agencies like the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Bureau of Food and Drug (BFAD).

Barrot added that the agency has scheduled other several important activities which will be held on October 10 and 11 like the holding of consumer education seminar to students of Kawayan National High School in the municipality of Kawayan and members of the Talustusan Munti-Purpose Cooperative in Talustusan, Naval.

Other activities include the holding of products standard seminar to owners of construction firms, hardware stores and other interested business firm and individuals who may wish to attend the seminar to be held at the DTI Provincial Office.

Based on the schedule of activities, an orientation on the Expanded Senior Citizens Act will also be conducted to give more information on the elderly members of the community on the privileges and benefits stipulated in the law.

Part of the activities to be conducted by DTI-Biliran is to establish a Consumer Welfare Center in the public market of Naval, conduct monitoring together with the Biliran Provincial Task Force LPG on business establishments selling Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), revitalization of the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) and the conferment of award to business establishments in Naval that will qualify for the DTI-Certified Establishment award.