URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan (PIA) – To raise awareness among younger generation on their consumer rights, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Pangasinan conducted a poster making contest as one of the highlights of the celebration of Consumer Welfare Month this October.
 
The poster making contest, anchored on this year’s celebration theme: “Sustainable Consumerism in the Digital Age”, was participated in by 31 selected senior high school students from various schools in the province of Pangasinan held on Tuesday at the SM City Urdaneta Central in Urdaneta City.
 
“We took into account the responsibility of individuals to be sustainable consumers and the digital age. Nagbago ang landscape market at mabilis na ngayon bumili. Given all these, consumers should be well-informed and vigilant so ito ‘yong gusto natin para iparating sa ating mga consumer ang awareness,” DTI Ilocos regional director Grace Falgui Baluyan said.
 
She emphasized the need to engage the youth in consumer welfare awareness as they comprise 30% of the population.
 
“If they are able to make a difference among their co-youth, malaking factor for DTI,” she said, adding that the core message of the activity is to make more people aware of their roles as consumers.
 
Baluyan added that the art works of the students will also be used as DTI’s consumer education materials.
 
“At the end of the day, hindi lang dapat ang agency ang nag-a-advocate kundi pati na rin ang private sector, kabilang ang mga kabataan,” she said.
 
During the contest, Jaestine Margareth Cabatbat  from University of Luzon emerged as the 1st place winner of the poster making contest, while Jeremhe Cabatbat from Daniel Maramba National High School and Mino Melo Cunanan  from San Felipe National High School bagged the 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.
 
The winners received certificates and cash prizes amounting to P5,000 for first placer; P3, 000 for the second placer; and P2,000 for the third place and token courtesy of SM City Urdaneta Central.
 
Non-winners also received their certificate of participation and consolation prize amounting to P500 worth of gift certificate from DTI Pangasinan. (JCR/AMB/EMSA/PIA Pangasinan)