World Fair Trade Day celebration

Where have all the consumers gone? With all eyes set on imported goods, international market trends and global issues, aren't we looking way past the plight of our own grassroot local producers?

Due to the failing economy, the purchasing power of consumers is decreasing. In turn, a lot of local producers, competing with a bulk of other domestic and foreign entrepreneurs, resort to producing lowest cost goods in the market, thereby sacrificing the quality aspect. The end result - a market that sees domestic products as inferior to imported ones.

This year's celebration of the World Trade Fair 2004 is geared toward refuting this concept and promoting the Filipino's own high-quality craft. The trade fair also aims to tackle issues confronting the country's micro, cottage and small enterprises (MCSE).

The festival, revelled the world over, came into being when the Philippine Fair Trade Forum (PFTF), a coalition of Philippine producers' groups, marketing and support organizations and advocates, spearheaded the celebration of the World Fair Trade Day last year.

The event, which called for a series of activities, including a buyer's forum, a trade exhibit in Metro Manila and satellite celebrations in the provinces, campaigned for changes in the rules of international trade, empowered producers and workers, and stressed the importance of small enterprises to the local economy.

The festivities gained positive responses, among which was the accommodation of products of small entrepreneurs by Metro Manila's big shopping malls.

"The event was able to soften the otherwise stringent process of mainstream stores in accepting products of community enterprises. We received feedbacks from one of those who participated in the exhibit that big grocery stores and supermarket chains are now more lenient in granting small producers access to their stores," explains Ronald Lagazo of the PFTF.

The affair also drew in the participation and support of the British Ambassador Paul Dimond and trade officials from the United States and Spanish embassies. A consumer awareness campaign was also carried out through the production and airing of a 15-minute video documentary and two television advertisements which enjoyed a favorable airtime in cable channels.

The happening was such a success that it was decided to repeat it this year. Themed "Small Change, Big Difference," the 2004 World Fair Trade Day inititated by PFTF aims to enliven the fair trade consciousness and market environment in the country.

It is set to inform the public that fair trade is a common ground wherein issues faced by small, disadvantaged local producers can be raised. Such concerns include the payment of fair wages good working conditions, safeguarding children against labor abuse, use of environmentally responsible practices and technology and capacity building.

PFTF has long since started its chronicle on the advocacy of fair trade practices in the Philippines. Its members include the Advocate of Philippine Fair Trade Inc., Bahay Pangarap, PREDA Fair Trade, and Sentro para sa Ikauunlad ng Katutubong Agham at Teknolohiya to name a few. This nonstock, non-profit organization serves as a conduit for increasing market access, both domestic and international, of the MCSE. It helps producers in treating market avenues and opportunities for their product beneficiaries by way of assisting them in product development, bringing them to trade fairs, building market linkages with prospective buyers, among others.

It also establishes an information center for fair trade initiatives, products and services, and lobbies for changes in trade policies which benefits disadvantaged producers. The PFTF may be reached at 425-1230 or email at pftf@apfti.org.ph or visit the PFTF Secretariat in Project 6, Quezon City.

Indeed, the World Fair Trade Day is a timely venue for such objectives. Running from May 2 to 7, the World Fair Trade Day celebration will kick-off with a motorcade around the Quezon City Memorial Circle. The festival’s highlight is the consumer consciousness exhibit, which will be launched by a convivial show and concert in the eve of May 2.

The display, to be shown at the Shangri-La Mall, EDSA, Pasig City, will showcase the diversity of Philippine raw materials and exquisite handcrafted products made by small-scale producers. It will further prove that Filipino products are comparable to that of imported competing foreign brands or any other.

By ELIZABETH CASTELLON

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