18/03/2026
DTI Laguna Celebrates Women Empowerment & Consumer Rights!
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Laguna Provincial Office successfully conducted the integrated celebration of the 2026 National Women’s Month and World Consumer Rights Day on March 16, 2026, at the DTI Laguna Provincial Office in Victoria, Laguna. The activity gathered approximately 68 participants composed of DTI personnel and On-the-Job Trainees (OJTs), providing a meaningful platform to promote gender equality, women empowerment, and consumer awareness.
Anchored on the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) sub-theme “Lead like the Babaylans, Filipinas!”, the celebration emphasized women’s leadership rooted in wisdom, compassion, and service to the community, inspired by the Babaylans of pre-colonial Philippines. At the same time, the activity integrated the global observance of World Consumer Rights Day with the theme “Safe Products, Confident Consumers,” highlighting the importance of consumer protection, product safety, and responsible decision-making in the marketplace.
The program commenced with a flag-raising ceremony and opening message from Provincial Director Christian Ted Tungohan, setting the tone for a day of empowerment and learning. This was followed by the cultural segment “Harana Para kay Juana,” which paid tribute to women and recognized their invaluable contributions to society through music and performance. The morning session featured a seminar on consumer rights and responsibilities, an orientation on the Integrated Registration Information System (IREGIS), and an interactive quiz bee led by the Consumer Protection Division, reinforcing participants’ knowledge on consumer protection and fair trade practices.
In the afternoon session, participants attended a seminar on Republic Act No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act, delivered by Ms. Gerlie Jara from the Provincial Government of Laguna. The session highlighted the importance of fostering safe, respectful, and gender-sensitive environments in both the workplace and public spaces. This was followed by “Kusina ni Juana: Coffee Edition,” a hands-on skills training facilitated by a local womanpreneur Ms. Shaira Reyes, Owner of Kairos Coffee. The activity provided participants with practical knowledge on coffee preparation while promoting entrepreneurship and livelihood skills. The event concluded with an awarding and closing ceremony, recognizing participants and summarizing the key learnings of the event.
Overall, the activity successfully enhanced participants’ awareness of women’s rights and leadership, strengthened their understanding of consumer protection, and reinforced the importance of maintaining safe and inclusive environments. It also highlighted the significant role of women entrepreneurs in local economic development and reaffirmed DTI Laguna’s commitment to Gender and Development (GAD) and consumer welfare initiatives.
Through this integrated celebration, DTI Laguna demonstrated its continued dedication to fostering a culture of empowerment, inclusivity, and informed consumerism. By embodying the spirit of the Babaylans - leaders guided by integrity, empathy, and service - the activity underscored the vital role of women and responsible consumers in achieving sustainable and inclusive growth in the community.
✨ Empowered women. Informed consumers. Inclusive growth.