DTI and Ad Standards Council renews partnership, drive to continue consumer protection

Published by

AdStandardCouncil

Date

March 30, 2022

Tagged under

DTI and Ad Standards Council renews partnership, drive to continue consumer protection

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Consumer Protection Group, has renewed its partnership with the Ads Standard Council (ASC) to protect consumers from false, deceptive and misleading advertisements.

The ASC is the advertising industry’s self-regulatory body that reviews advertising and brand communications materials to safeguard consumers’ interest by promoting the highest ethical standards and trust across all media. The association is composed of 7 member organizations spanning the breadth of advertising and brand communications in the country. ASC works together with partners DTI, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Movies and Television Classification Board (MTRCB) and other government regulatory bodies.

In a statement, DTI said that under the renewed agreement with the council, ASC shall continue the pre- and post-screening of advertising material content in line with Republic Act (RA) 7394 or the “Consumer Act of the Philippines” and the ASC Code of Standards and Ethics.

The ASC shall also provide information on any advertising content that is false, deceptive, misleading, unfair, poses a danger to consumer welfare or safety, or violates advertising standards.

It will constantly monitor all advertisements to ensure compliance and shall also appear as witnesses, upon DTI’s request, in cases relating to false, deceptive and misleading advertisements.

The Consumer Act of the Philippines mandates DTI to enforce the provisions of Chapter 6 on advertising and sales promotion.

Any person, association, partnership or corporation who shall violate the same shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than P500 but not more than P5,000, or an imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than six months, or both upon the discretion of the court.

“The DTI fully supports ASC and encourages all players in the advertising industry to take advantage of this collaboration. We laud the ASC for helping DTI in protecting consumers against false, deceptive, and misleading advertisement through self-regulation.” said DTI Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth Castelo.

Says ASC Executive Director Digna Santos, “We take pride in this renewed partnership with the DTI as we both continue our mission to uplift standards in advertising with the ultimate goal of protecting the consumer and the general public. This cooperation also strengthens the role of our stakeholders as responsible brand communicators.” ASC Operations Manager Robbie Aligada, adds, “The partnership between ASC and DTI comes in the most opportune time to continuously implement standards in promoting truth, honesty and fairness in a brand’s communication piece.  I have faith that together we can help the industry further amplify its role in the country’s economic progress.”