Bona fide text
Consumer rights awareness
"Promoting Consumers' Rights through Campus Journalism," was the theme of this year's Regional Press Conference on December 10-11, 2007 at Punta Villa Resort, Arevalo, Iloilo City.
The theme is indeed timely as it answers the questions of every consumers nowadays. The two-day press con was participated by campus journalists coming from different schools all over Region VI.
Dr. April Dream Rio-Teodosio, professor at WVSU and CPU's Graduate school, enlightened the high school participants as well as the school paper advisers with her talk about consumer rights, methods of false advertising and consumer protection against fraud and false advertisement.
"Campus journalists can help spread awareness through researching, validating and investigating the different advertisements as seen on television, print ads, as posted especially in billboards and heard over the radio," Dr. Teodosio said.
Upon hearing the discussion she made before the more than 1,700 participants, I could recall all the things I've taught to my Fourth Year Students way back in September. I even mentioned to Rapunzel, "We've discussed the topic in our second quarter, right?" And she replied with a smile on her face, "Yes sir and even in our Health subject we've discussed that also this quarter."
Republic Act 7394, the Consumer Act of the Philippines, was specifically enacted by Congress to protect the interest and general welfare of the consumer. The general provision of the act includes protection against hazards to health and safety; protection against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices and provision of adequate rights and means of redness.
Consumer education is one best way to safeguard the buying public from deceitful, bogus substandard goods and services. Knowing your rights as a consumer is not the only thing that you should know but also your responsibilities.
Based on the Department of Trade and Industry and Bureau of Trade Regulations and Consumer Protection there are eight (8) basic consumer rights:
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The right to basic needs
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Right to safety
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The right to information
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The right to choose
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The right to representation
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The rights to redness
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The right to consumer education
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The right to a healthy environment
However, the rights granted to each one of us consumers have its corresponding responsibility. Still according to the DTI and BTRCP here are the five (5) consumer responsibilities: critical awareness, action, social concern, environment awareness, and solidarity.
In our setting today, press conferences just like what we've attended last Monday adhered to the need of the consumers. In others words, the right consumer education is not merely taught in school but also outside school activities. Kudos to the Department of Education for emphasizing and giving focus to the consumer's rights as depicted in their theme.
If you care as a consumer, you should know your rights and responsibilities. If you don't, why buy, purchase or acquire for?
"Costumer is always right," is not always as effective as you think.