By Annabel J. Petinglay / Philippine News Agency
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Antique provincial office is tapping the voluntary services of senior citizens to help monitor the prices of basic goods.
DTI Antique Information Officer Lynna Joy Cardinal said in an interview on Friday that a memorandum of understanding had been signed with the local government of San Jose de Buenavista, the Kapisanan ng mga Matatandang Mamayan ng San Jose de Buenavista and other stakeholders to establish collaboration to improve business regulation and increased consumer awareness.
This came about after the launch of the “Provision of Support Mechanisms to San Jose Tradetown Operation” project on April 21.
“We are tapping the support of senior citizens initially of San Jose de Buenavista because we, DTI personnel, cannot do the monitoring alone, because there’s only a few of us,” Cardinal said.
She said the elderly would undergo capacity-building and orientation soon on the Consumer Act of the Philippines and other fair- trade and consumer-protection laws, so they could help eliminate unfair business practices and empower consumers to assert their rights and get the best value for their money.
The senior citizens can report violations on trade practices to the Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Office and to the DTI so that these can be acted upon immediately.