The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Ilocos regional office has advised the public to purchase items considered critical to safety, such as Christmas lights and gadgets, in physical or online stores of the accredited manufacturers.
In an interview on Tuesday, DTI Ilocos regional director Grace Falgui Baluyan said most of the complaints they receive from consumers were due to defective products bought online.
“For the critical safety items, it is better to buy them in physical stores or from the online platforms of manufacturers or exclusive distributors,” she said.
Baluyan said even online retailers should have the permit to engage in business and the license to operate issued by the local government unit.
“Warranties should be expressed and cleared. Always best to ask and if in doubt, don’t (buy),” she added.
Baluyan said the DTI is conducting consumer education on different platforms as well as targeting different age groups in line with the celebration of Consumers’ Welfare Month with the theme “Sustainable Consumerism in the Digital Age”.
“We took into account the responsibility of individuals as sustainable consumers and the digital age. The landscape market has changed as it is now easier to buy online. Given all these, consumers should be well-informed and vigilant. The main message is for the people to be more aware of their roles as consumers,” she added.
As part of DTI Ilocos activities, some 31 students from different schools in Pangasinan competed in a poster-making contest at SM City Urdaneta Central in Urdaneta City on Oct. 25.
“Their work of art will be used for consumer education materials. We need to engage the youth as they comprise 30 percent of the population. If they are able to make a difference, it would be a big factor,” she added.
The DTI will also recognize the new awardees for the Bagwis seal who are partners of the agency in advocating consumer welfare.
“These establishments have their consumer welfare desk within and they are able to resolve consumer issues,” Baluyan said. (PNA)
