DTI uses SMS to inform public of current prices

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has initiated a text messaging service that would inform consumers of the current prices of basic goods in selected public markets.

Dubbed Text DTI PRESYO, the project was created as part of DTI’s regular information dissemination campaign to protect the consuming public from abusive retailers.

"Equipping consumers with the right information keeps them on guard against unfair practices in the market. Thus, we took our campaign a notch higher by coming up with a text-based service that is convenient and easy to use," Undersecretary for Consumer Welfare Zenaida Maglaya said.

Maglaya added that mobile phone technology has been proven to be an effective medium for the DTI’s consumer advocacy efforts as shown by its text-based consumer assistance system, Text DTI, which receives as much as 30 complaints or queries from consumers in a day.

Through Text DTI PRESYO, consumers can learn the prevailing price of basic goods from 32 wet markets in Metro Manila and several markets in Cebu and Davao.

The service covers selected brands of canned fish, corned beef, condensed milk, instant noodles, soy sauce, detergent bar and other DTI-monitored commodities under the Price Act.

To use the service, the consumer must simply send a text message composed of a string of keywords to 2256.

Afterwards, a reply message will be sent to his or her mobile phone containing the needed information.

A rate of P2.50 will be charged for every sent text message.

Maglaya added, "We are already preparing to expand the list of markets covered by Text DTI PRESYO so that more consumers nationwide will be able to benefit from it."

DTI sought the assistance of content provider Brewed Concepts Inc. for creating the program for Text DTI PRESYO, and major telecommunication companies Globe, Smart and Digitel for the full operation of the project.

The service has been available to Globe and Sun Cellular subscribers since Jan. 31, 2006, and to Smart users starting Feb. 16.

DTI urges the public to try Text DTI PRESYO.

Consumers may call the DTI hotline 751-3330 to know more about the instructions and keywords for using the service.

In addition, Text DTI can be accessed by Globe and Smart subscribers by sending DTI<space>message to 2920.