Regional consumer forums set

In a series of dialogues to be conducted in various regions nationwide starting next week, consumer groups will thresh out contentious issues affecting the Philippine markets and tackle proposals on how best these issues could be addressed and the markets made to work for Filipino consumers.

The regional dialogs, which will begin in Davao City on Feb. 26 and end in Manila on March 7, are also aimed at establishing a mechanism through which consumer groups can coordinate their various reform initiatives vis-a-vis government and the business sector.

The regional dialogs or consultative forums are part of the ongoing Consumer Assistance Facilitation Project (CAFP), a joint exercise between Filipino consumer organizations and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Robin Brown, an Australian consumer affairs specialist, will present a paper on "Making Markets Work for People" covering such topics as the international consumer movement, consumer rights and responsibilities, the consumer movement’s view of such issues as the globalization of markets, regulatory intervention, the new regulatory state and the role of co-regulation.

Francis dela Cruz, executive officer of the Citizens Alliance for Consumer Protection, will talk on consumers in the Philippines and priority isuses for action while Ellen Cain, a consumer advocate affilated with the Foundation for Economic Freedom, will talk on the critical characteristics and the power of united effort in pushing for consumer-oriented reforms.

The dialogs will also be a forum for the introduction and discussion of proposals for improvements in consumer protection and competition legislation and regulatory arrangements, incuding access to the law. Specific issues to be discussed include pharmaceuticals, product safety, infant formula code of conduct, co-regulation and complaint handling, privatization/liberalization of the electricity market.

The dialogs of forums will be held in the follwing cities on the following dates: Davao City – Feb. 26; Cebu City, Feb. 28, Legazpi City, March 2; Baguio City, March 5; and Manila, March 7.