Ferolino, E. N. L. (2016). Barangay engagement in education and advocacy for well-informed and responsible (BE AWARE) consumers (Unpublished master's thesis). Public Management Development Program, Development Academy of the Philippines.

Public Management Development Program Middle Managers Class Batch 10 Thesis (MMC)--Development Academy of the Philippines.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) adheres to Article XVI, General Provision, Section 9 of 1987 Philippine Constitution which states "The state shall protect consumers from trade malpractices and substandard or hazardous products." Pursuant to Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016, DTI shall endeavor to improve the business environment, increase productivity and efficiency, and enhance consumer welfare. Further, former President Aquino's Social Contract to the Filipino People under Executive Order No. 43 stipulates that DTI is responsible for realizing the goal for the country's globally competitive and innovative industry and services sector that contribute to inclusive growth and development. Thus, a consumer sector that is vibrant and dynamic demands better products and services and encourages the production of high quality products and services that are globally competitive. Consumer education and advocacy is a continuing program that requires various medium to suit with sectors' absorptive capacity. However, despite the countless initiatives conducted by DTI-12, some studies still revealed that only less than half of consumers in Region 12 are aware of consumers' rights and responsibilities. To narrow this gap, the Department of Trade and Industry in Region 12 conceptualized a project known as Barangay Engagement in Education and Advocacy for Well-informed and Responsible (BE AWARE) Consumers. In B'laan dialect, Be Aware Consumers may mean "Nun kanfalongto/agnare bilang sato mamle!". The ultimate objective of the project is to elevate the level of consciousness of consumers from just being concerned with addressing their basic needs to making a more socially-oriented and empowered consumer-informed decision-making. The project was implemented at Barangay Saravia in Koronadal City in collaboration with Department of Social Welfare and Development-12, Koronadal City Consumers Association (KOCICA), Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU), and two (2) member agencies of ConsumerNet (Food and Drug Administration-12 and National Food Authority-12). The project conducted information and education campaign seminars to beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and identified community leaders to be advocates of BE AWARE Consumers. As part of sustainability, compiled Training Modules and handbook known as Gabay Konsyumer were developed. Interesting to note was the declaration of the Barangay Council to establish a Consumer Welfare Desk sa Barangay. The quick survey administered before and after the consumer education sessions showed improved awareness. The survey aimed to determine the level of awareness on consumer protection of 4Ps beneficiaries in the Barangay. Overall, there was a significant shift of responses from the 343 respondents, from Not at all Aware of Slightly Aware to Moderately Aware. In addition, the appreciation of the participants expressed in the 835 filled-out Client Satisfaction Feedbcak survey forms every session is a manifestation that the Project has touched the special sectors in the countryside known nowadays, those in the "laylayan ng lipunan". The engagement in the barangay was felt considering the Department in not among the national agencies devolved in the local government. Indeed, "Serbisyong Higit pa sa Inaasahan".