A consumer is an integral part of society, who, every day makes choices that will determine the success or failure of products.  The choices can also contribute to sustainability, help preserve the environment and save the planet.

The theme of this year’s Consumer Welfare Month (CWM), which the country celebrates every October, reflects this initiative to change consumer behavior —  “GenS: Generation Sustainable — to “underscore the importance of responsible consumption and the adoption of sustainable consumer practices.”

The Department of Trade and Industry, through its Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG), leads the celebration of Consumer Welfare Month, with a campaign for sustainable consumption that started in 2018.  Since then, the themes for each year’s celebration have been related to sustainability.

The awareness campaign has begun to see a change in consumer behavior.  On its website, the agency has observed the rise of sustainability-oriented consumers through a survey showing consumers now value circularity.  The survey results showed that 53 percent of respondents said they repaired an item instead of replacing it; 40 percent have purchased secondhand or refurbished goods; and 38 percent paid extra for a more durable product.

On the DTI page, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has posted a statement encouraging consumers to consciously make sustainable choices in availing goods and services, adopt sustainable lifestyles, and practice the 7Rs of Sustainability to harness genuine and sustained change. 

The 7Rs of Sustainability — rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle and repair — start with the assessment of choices and behavior “with an emphasis on long-term environmental and social impacts.”

The other part of the CWM celebration highlights consumer protection.  Days ago, the agency launched the DTI Consumer Complaints Assistance and Resolution System (CARe System) and the Philippine Online Dispute Resolution System (PODROS) that will hasten the resolution of complaints. The systems will make it easier to seek redress and find solutions to consumer issues because everything will be processed online.

These will address complaints under the DTI’s jurisdiction and will direct concerns to the appropriate government office or local government unit.
DTI launched the systems in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation Inc. (UPPAF).

The DTI’s activities celebrating CWM show its commitment to consumer welfare. As DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual said during the launch of the new online systems: “By embracing technology while simultaneously implementing safeguards and raising awareness, we can create an environment where consumers can confidently engage in commerce and other activities online, knowing that their interests and security are protected.”

In addition, the theme’s focus on making consumers aware of the responsibility to make sustainable choices shows the agency’s initiative to a very relevant issue.  It is a good advocacy that the private sector can echo through civic, church or corporate activities.  After all, each citizen is a consumer and awareness is the key to making responsible choices.