DTI steps up campaign for healthy lifestyle

DAVAO CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will highlight its healthy lifestyle campaign as it celebrates Consumer Month in October.

The first Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability (Lohas) fair of Davao will be staged on October 15 to 18 at the Gaisano Mall in Davao City. This is aimed at answering the commonly-asked questions relative to living a healthy lifestyle.

“A preference for naturally grown food and locally-made products, a minimal use of energy from fossil fuel, buying products that are bio-degradable, will all these deprive people of the many joys of living? These are few of the many questions that we hear from people who are hesitant to embrace a healthy lifestyle,” DTI-Davao City Field Office director Teolulo T. Pasawa said.

Pasawa added that the three and a half day event will also feature green technologies that home-makers and entrepreneurs can adopt.

Giving an example, Pasawa explained that buying products made of local biodegradable materials like the bayong, will go a long way in reducing consumption of plastics which are harmful to the environment. He said that a sustainable lifestyle must take into consideration the effects of consumption on the environment and future generations.

Cash-L Network Inc. chair Cesar Ledesma said that the Lohas fair finds support in a humanist point of view.

“Beyond climate change, beyond the global food and oil crisis, and beyond skyrocketing prices of consumer goods, there is a fundamental truth that every human being is duty bound to uphold — it is, to care for the welfare of their fellow human beings and to care for the earth and all of God�s creation,” he said.

Initiated by the DTI and its partner organization, the Consumer Action for Sustainable and Healthy Lifestyle (CASH-L) Network, Inc., it will showcase products and services making such a lifestyle practicable and not just an ultra-environmentalist dream.

Products of local holders of the Philippine Standards (PS) marks of safety and quality will also be featured in the fair.

Among the many points of interest in the fair will be alternative health products and services, healthy indigenous products of Mindanao. Entrepreneurs who have such products may also join the fair by getting in touch with the DTI through telephone number (082) 224-0511 local 421. (DTI)