DTI raises awareness on sustainable consumption

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) highlighted the importance of a mutual reinforcement of digitalization and sustainable consumption among consumers to build a more equitable future.

This was the key takeaway at its recent consumer congress, which brought together consumer champions and stakeholders from Australia, South Korea, and across ASEAN.

“With the continuous digitization of consumer transactions, the DTI hopes to achieve convergence not only between the interests of consumers and businesses but also of the environment. We shall at all times give paramount importance,”DTI- Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Assistant Secretary Ann Claire Cabochan said.

DTI-CPG Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said consumers must be mindful of their consumption behavior.

“When doing purchases online, we need to be vigilant on the sustainability of the products that we purchase and check the packaging materials, for example,” Castelo said.

For his part, Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB) director Marcus Valdez II, who spoke on behalf of Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, said the DTI is in constant communication with the platforms to at least minimize or lessen the use of plastic.

“I would like to express my deepest appreciation to those who have been instrumental in navigating with us the ever-increasing complexity of consumer affairs toward sustainability,” he said.

During the congress, speakers from the Philippines and other countries provided updates and information on the state of consumer protection in the country, challenges, lessons, and the future of Consumer Organizations in ASEAN, and Sustainable Consumption and the Role of Consumer Organizations.

“To effectively protect the interests of consumers, the DTI continues to develop and reevaluate existing policies, laws, and regulations to improve and ensure their applicability to the developments of trade and technology, and consumers’ needs,” Valdez said.