As part of the Consumer Month Celebration, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), together with the member agencies of the Leyte Consumer Network, has staged this year’s 13th Consumer Information Market and Exhibit at the Robinsons Place Tacloban Expansion Activity Area.

The three-day event, which started today, Tuesday, October 3, aims to provide useful consumer information and “encourage dialogue and cooperation among the consumers, business, and government sectors in strengthening consumer rights awareness and protection,” according to the DTI.

Among the 20 exhibitors is the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which brought its Coin Recirculation Program to the event. As part of the program, those with unfit, mutilated, and rusted new generation bills and coins can exchange them for new ones.

However, only those with 60% of their remaining material, an intact security thread, and a visible signature can be exchanged.

The agency is also bringing its advocacy on the proper use of the new 1000-peso polymer bill, of which the BSP said more than 5 million pieces are currently being circulated in the region. In connection with this, the central bank appealed to business owners to accept folded 1K polymer bills, as this does not diminish their value.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will be giving out a limited number of seedlings and disseminating useful information on the various programs of the agency.

The other agencies that set up booths during the event are the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Meat Inspection Service, National Food Authority, DepEd, Food and Drug Administration, DILG, BIR, LEYECO II, LTO, NTC, MARINA, CAAP, Civil Aeronautics Board, Prime Water Leyte Metro, and non-governmental organization Save the Children.

Institutionalized through Presidential Proclamation Number 1098, signed by then-President Fidel V. Ramos, Consumer Welfare Month is held every October.

This year’s consumer information market and exhibit with the theme “GenS: Generation Sustainable,” sponsored by Tingog Party List and Robinsons Malls, will run until October 5, 2023.

#CIOUpdates#ConsumerRights#TaclobanCity

photos by D. Abarquez via H.J. Roca with reports from M. Menosa and E. Lagahit/CIO