The Department of Trade and Industry’s Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG) held a three-day Diskwento Caravan from October 14 to 16 at the DTI Head Office Parking Lot in Makati City as part of its celebration of the Consumer Welfare Month this year.  

Dubbed as “Diskwento Caravan: Observing Social Discounting @ DTI”, the conduct thereof aimed to continuously provide goods to the public at discounted prices especially during the pandemic, and at the same time to raise consumer awareness on products under the basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs) categories, and on products covered in the mandatory certification.  

Through the joint efforts of the DTI-CPG’s Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB) and Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), the three-day caravan was participated in by the following manufacturers as exhibitors: San Miguel Foods (Purefoods and Magnolia), Mega Global Corporation, Coca-Cola Beverages Phils. Inc., Alaska Milk Corporation, NutriAsia, Inc, Mayora Philippines (Kopiko), Nestle Philippines (Optimized Customer Solutions, Inc.), Century Pacific Food, Inc, Gardenia Bakeries Phils., Inc., Cordillera Farmers, Wellmade Manufacturing Corp., Cherenz Global Manufacturing, 4A Helmet Asia Manufacturing, Bostanten, and Leo Tire Manufacturing Corporation.  

Atty. Marimel D. Porciuncula, DTI-CPAB Officer-in-Charge Director underscores, “It is important to reiterate to the public, especially consumers that the DTI closely monitors the movement of price and supply of basic necessities and prime commodities not only during emergency situations, but also during regular days.”  

In addition, DTI-BPS Director Neil P. Catajay points out, “Part of the Consumer Welfare Month celebration is the annual National Standards Week on 08-14 October, in cognizance of the World Standards Day every 14th of October. He further emphasizes the relevance of standards on product quality and safety to consumers at this time of emergency brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.”  

In the CWM Diskwento Caravan, the manufacturers offered their products to the buying public at discounted prices.  

DTI-CPG Undersecretary Atty. Ruth Castelo asserts, “The DTI-CPG recognizes its partnership with the manufacturers of BNPCs and certified products for providing their products for selling at very affordable prices”.  

The BNPCs in the CWM Diskwento Caravan include among others, canned beef, canned sardines, hotdog, dressed chicken, powdered milk, coffee, condiments, assorted bread, fresh vegetables, pasta, tomato sauce, and fruit cocktail.  

The CWM Diskwento Caravan also showcased kitchen appliances, motorcycle helmets, and rubber inner tubes with the Philippine Standard (PS) or the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC).  

The DTI reminded those who visited the three-day bazaar to always wear their face masks and face shields; practice physical distancing; to bring eco-bags to minimize plastic wastes; and to observe proper waste disposal during the event. The DTI enjoined the manufacturers and distributors to likewise comply with the said minimum health protocols to ensure the safety of the staff and buyers.  

From February 2020 up to this date, the CPAB has conducted a total of 64 Diskwento Caravans in different barangays located in the National Capital Region and Region 4A. The DTI’s conduct of the Diskwento Caravan is in collaboration with the Local Government Units and manufacturers of basic necessities and prime commodities.  

The public is advised to like and follow the DTI Consumer Care Facebook page to get the latest updates and schedule of the Consumer Welfare Month celebration. (END)  

DTI-EMB TO HOLD WEBINAR ON IMPORT PROCESSES FOR EXPORTERS

The Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) invites participants to the Philippine Export Competitiveness Program (PECP) Webinar: Guide on Import Processes for Exporters on 27 October 2020, 1:30pm – 3:30 pm via CISCO Webex. The program will be featuring the following topics: Guide on General Import Procedures; Philippine National Trade Repository (PNTR): Importers and Exporters Single Source of Trade-Related Information; Online Importers Accreditation; What Exporters Need to Know on the Updated Selectivity System; and Province of Origin: Mandatory Field of the Single Administrative Document (SAD) for Export Declaration. Interested participants may register through bit.ly/EMBImport. Registered participants will be emailed with a meeting link prior to the event. For further inquiries, you may contact Ms. Des Bernardo through email: PECP@dti.gov.ph. END  

Lanzones festival goes online 

Celebrate the 41st grandest festival of one of the most competitive provinces of the Philippines online!

Add to cart your favorite Camiguin pasalubong items or delicacies as 40 local MSMEs including food and non-food exhibitors and lanzones traders showcase the best of their products in the first-ever Ugmad Online 2020.

Ugmad or the Agro-Industrial Technology Trade and Tourism Fair is an annual event that aims to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) especially those with competitive advantage promote their products to the local and tourist market. It is one of the major activities of Camiguin’s Lanzones Festival.

The Camiguin products will be available for online orders at Facebook.com/LanzonesFestival, can be paid online through GCash, PayMaya, ML Wallet, Land Bank of the Philippines, Philippine National Bank, or Union Bank, and will be delivered through J&T Express.

A Facebook live selling will be held on October 24, 2020 at the official Lanzones Festival Facebook Page. Trivia and other contests relating to the festival with exciting prizes also await the lucky buyers of the virtual trade fair’s live selling.

Ugmad Online 2020 is open to the public on October 18-25, 2020. For more information, visit Facebook.com/Lanzones Festival. (END)