Consumers learn about sustainable consumption
BONTOC, Mountain Province, Oct. 29 (PIA)--Consumers in the province learned about sustainable consumption in a live kapihan among Consumernet-member agencies led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in coordination with Radyo Pilipinas in celebration of Consumer Welfare Month.
DTI Assistant Regional Director Juliet Lucas encouraged consumers to patronize local products as the province’s proactive measure in safeguarding the entry of disease-ridden livestock or contaminated products which are deemed unsafe for public consumption. She urged consumers to be locavores- to eat locally produced products only and to grow their own food.
Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Federico Martin shared that Depd sustained access to school feeding program and this is now improving in terms of the quality of foods that are being served. Vegetables planted in the school gardens which are free from pesticides are being used for their feeding program.
Junk foods are not allowed to be sold in the canteens per DepEd program as learners have the right to consume foods in canteens which are really healthy, Martin said.
A team composed of the Health and Nutrition Unit, school monitoring team, and the Technology and Livelihood Education supervisor monitors the foods being served in the school canteens including the implementation of the school feeding program and the school garden.
Learners have the right to be in clean environment. “We are trying to inculcate in the subject areas and even during meetings waste segregation for the safety of the learners as well as the foods that they are consuming that might be polluted because of the physical environment,” Martin said.
TESDA Provincial Director Eric Ueda also encouraged consumers to buy environment-friendly products. He also shared TESDA’s programs especially on ongoing trainings on the different qualifications.
Provincial Science and Technology Director Alfonso Berto shared Department of Science and Technology’s services in support to consumers and suppliers such as laboratory analysis of foods so that consumers are informed of the nutritional facts of foods they buy and for consumers to be informed of the food ingredients especially consumers who have some food allergies.
Bontoc Councilor John Pelew shared one of the focused program of the municipal government on environment is regular scheduled collection of segregated garbage. It is the responsibility of the consumers to segregate their garbage and to strictly follow the schedule of garbage collection. If this is followed, it will be of great help not only in the locality but the world as a whole, he said.
Other agency representatives also presented their programs and services in line with CWM’s theme of "Sustainable Consumption: Understanding the impact of Consumer’s Choices in a Shared Environment."
Executive Assistant June Pinayakan of the Provincial Governor’s Office also informed the public of the programs of the provincial government particularly on livelihood program, and the Executive Order issued by Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. for the quarantine of not only animals but also other commodities that enter the province for the protection of consumers especially with the presence of African Swine Fever virus in the country.
Cesar Guilet presented DOH advocacy on the use of Generics stressing that generics medicines are as effective as branded medicines. He explained the strict implementation of the “no prescription, no dispensing of antibiotics” and other regulatory functions of the agency like the distribution of Drug Price Reference Index (DPRI) to all LGUs specially to municipal health officers which serves as guide in the procurement of medicines.
Jerry Santos of the Philippine Statistics Authority shared that their office is responsible in the taking of prices of basic commodities that households are buying to come up with the consumer price index and the inflation rate as he discussed on the important role of data statistics in policy making. (JDP/JBS-CAR, Mtn. Province)
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