ACCP advances consumer protection in ASEAN

Following the successful conduct of the 3rd ASEAN Consumer Protection Conference (ACPC) last 28 June 2022, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) informs the public that two of the ASEAN Committee on Consumer Protection (ACCP) deliverables that are now available in the ACCP website.

Officially launched during the Conference, ASEAN consumers can now access the Learning Management System which offers modules on consumer protection to raise public awareness and vigilance across the 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The public can gain a better understanding of consumer issues and disputes by using these free interactive online distance learning tools.

Additionally, the ASEAN Regional Complaints Platform is now up in the ACCP website allowing consumers to file a complaint and seek redress for products purchased from any of the AMS.

“With these developments, consumers and all stakeholders in the ASEAN Region are encouraged to access and fully utilize these tools, as well as disseminate the information among their families, friends and colleagues”, DTI Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary, Atty. Ruth B. Castelo, underscores.

Another ACCP deliverable is the development of the ASEAN Sustainable Consumption Toolkit (SCT) consisting of five (5) modules, which promotes Sustainable Consumption and Production. The availability of this toolkit in the ACCP website is set on August 2022.

During the ACPC’s Thematic Session on the Dispute Resolution in ASEAN, the DTI, through its Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB), presented the Philippine Online Dispute Resolution System (PODRS) Pilot Project, or the DTI Consumer Complaints and Assistance Resolution (CARe) System.

DTI-CPAB Director Valdez II explains, “The system will automate and harmonize the entire government complaints handling process with the end goal of interlinking all the member agencies of the Consumer Network (ConsumerNet), or the group of government departments with consumer protection functions”.

The public is advised to visit the ACCP website to know more about consumer protection initiatives of ASEAN. The recording of the 3rd ACPC can be viewed via the ASEAN Secretariat Youtube Channel. For consumer-related concerns and queries, send an email to ConsumerCare@dti.gov.ph or call the One-DTI (1-384) Hotline.