Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan
NEGROS ORIENTAL,
October 15 (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Negros
Oriental is reminding consumers to exercise their right to knowledge in buying
products.
The reminder came with the onset of
the observance of the National Consumer Welfare Month this October.
Speaking in a Kapihan Forum
yesterday, DTI-Negros Oriental Consumer Welfare Division Chief Angeline
Gonzales spoke on basic consumer rights, one of which is right to information.
This refers to the consumer’s right
to be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising or labelling and
the right to be given the facts and information needed to make an informed
choice.
Gonzales highlighted this particular
consumer right because of the upcoming full implementation of Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community or AEC in 2016.
She said that with the
implementation of AEC, majority of the products from other ASEAN countries can
enter the local market free and without tariff.
Exercising the right to information
is a way of protecting consumer’s welfare, she noted.
Gonzales urged consumers to read the
product’s label carefully, learn more about its manufacturing and the
safety of the product before buying it.
If it is a food product, consumers
should read its ingredients to avoid any allergies and ensure food safety.
The DTI official emphasized the
public should have a high level of awareness on their rights and duties as
consumers especially since the full realization of AEC is getting close.
She believes that once AEC is fully
established, products from other countries will be cheaper because there is no
more tariff and this will make the market more competitive.
With the influx of more products
coming in the market, Gonzales notes that consumer protection is one the main
thrusts of AEC.
“AEC prioritizes the interest and
welfare of consumers in the implementation of strategies for achieving integrated
economic region,” she said.
Gonzales disclosed that AEC
encourages its members to formulate measures on consumer protection.
The Philippines is lucky since it
already has its Consumer Act that serves as the bible for consumer welfare, she
added.
Aside from this, AEC also promotes
notification and information exchange mechanism among its members.
Part of this is the website http://www.aseanconsumer.org/
wherein consumers who have complaints on products coming from other ASEAN
countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam can log in and enter
their complaints.
Complainants will then be directed
to government agencies or bureaus that handle consumer welfare.
With this, complainants no
longer need to go the country where the product is manufactured to file their
complaints.
“The objective with regard to
competitive economic region is to ensure the correct information in the market
place and protect the interest and welfare of the consumers,” she said.
(rmn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)