ILOILO CITY (PIA6) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Iloilo has encouraged the public to be  champions of sustainable consumption as the agency anchored the important role of practicing good consumption patterns and responsible practices and alternatives in the celebration of Consumers Welfare Month (CWM).

DTI-Iloilo OIC division chief and senior trade industry development specialist Ma. Dorita Chaves said in a press conference on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 that the main focus of the celebration is to push for sustainable consumer practices and how these actions can minimize the adverse impact of their consumption to the environment.

“It’s all anchored in our environment, how we take care of our environment and what are the things that we need to do in order to help protect our environment… “It’s more also on advocacy kung paano nila ina siya ihandle or paano natun ina siya himuon or paano kita sina makabulig sa atun nga advocacy,” Chaves added.

(Oct. 6), Lambunao (Oct. 12), and Zarraga (Oct. 12); social media and infomercial making contest (Oct. 15); and product standards corner during the Artesanias de Iloilo Trade Fair on Oct. 11 to 15, 2023.

DTI-Iloilo also said that they aim to generate up to P3.5 million in sales in this year’s Artesanias de Iloilo, noting that around 98 local exhibitors will participate in the trade fair, showcasing locally-made products, like bamboo, coconut, cacao, coffee, wearable and other processed food.

Meanwhile, DTI-Iloilo director Ma. Dinda Tamayo added that the CWM celebration will serve as a venue to inform the public of the basic consumer rights, duties and responsibilities, citing the importance of empowering them informing about the other available assistance and programs of the government that they could avail.

“It’s us giving back to the consumers. We want to package and let them know of our assistance being in the DTI so that we can also share with them and emphasize that we are helping, and it is our mandate that we empower consumers,” Tamayo stressed. (AAL/JNH/PIA Iloilo)