Millennial vloggers have won big at the recently concluded Consumer Vlog Making Contest organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) MIMAROPA.
The contest is part of the many lined-up activities of DTI MIMAROPA in celebration of the 2021 Consumer Welfare Month, with the theme Digital Consumers: The New Normal. Moreover, the activity aims to heighten the awareness of consumers and viewers on plastic-related issues and concerns, and to utilize the winning video materials as advocacy tools to promote consumer welfare.
DTI MIMAROPA Regional Director Joel B. Valera acknowledges the importance of implementing new measures to educate and empower more consumers in the new and better normal. “Consumers are the drivers of economic growth, and despite the limitations brought by the new normal, we must continue our efforts in enforcing consumer protection. That’s why we have to take most of our consumer advocacy initiatives virtually because of the pandemic. I am also happy to announce that the total consumer reach of our online consumer vlog contest this year is 32,203 and a total engagement rate of 14,928.”
This activity kicked off with the call for vlog entries for the provincial-level competition. Interested participants were required to attend an orientation seminar conducted by the DTI Provincial Office to equip them on the following themes: (1) Tackling Plastic Pollution (World Consumer Rights Day 2021 theme), (2) Consumer in the New Normal. Participants were then asked to create a 3–5-minute video blog, or vlog, focusing on any of the two abovementioned themes. The grand prize winner in the provincial level received 10,000 pesos, a certificate of recognition, and advanced to the regional level competition.
As part of the criteria for judging to determine the regional level winners, online voting was also organized from October 1-19 via the DTI MIMAROPA Facebook page. This initiative resulted in an increase in consumer reach and engagement, with total accumulated views of 15,500, over 2,000 reactions, over 5000 shares, and around 400 comments.
The team from Oriental Mindoro, with the vlog titled “The Gifted Trio”, was hailed the overall champion which came with a prize of P20,000 and a plaque of recognition. Coming in second place is the team from Romblon, with the vlog titled “Chika-alaman: The Chismis that Matters”, who received P14,000 and a plaque of recognition. The vlog titled “Consumer in the New Normal; Add to Cart” of Occidental Mindoro, on the other hand, won third place and bagged P10,000 and a plaque of recognition. The vlog entries “Vlog ni Mareng Marga: #EkisanAngPlastik #IFlexAngBasket” from Marinduque and “Ang buhay ng mamimili sa panahon ng pandemya” from Palawan both won consolation prizes worth P4,000 and received plaques of recognition.
The entries were judged based on their content and relevance to the theme, technicality, creativity, originality, and impact. The virtual awarding ceremony happened on 20 October 2021, via Zoom.
Aside from this, the provincial offices of DTI MIMAROPA have also launched several Diskwento Caravans and simultaneous product standards and basic necessities and prime commodities monitoring as part of the 2021 Consumer Welfare Month.
