TO STANDARDIZE the agency's procedure, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has issued guidelines for the application and implementation of sales promotion.

In a memorandum dated June 11, 2019, DTI Undersecretary Rowel Barba noted the guidelines on the implementation of the 30-day requirement for Sales Promotion Permit applications.

"Under the said memorandum, only those applications for sales promo activities or campaigns which are national in character must first secure a permit from the DTI at least 30 days before the start of the sales campaign," Barba said.

Sales promotion application for regional or local level, meanwhile, is not required to observe the 30-day period. The applicants, though, are still required to submit their applications prior to the start of the campaign, Barba added.

Barba also cited Article 116 of Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, which particularly states that companies conducting sales campaigns that are national in character, including beauty contests, shall secure first an approved Sales Promotion Permit before they can conduct such campaign.

He also cited the opinion of the DTI legal officer, citing that the 30 -day requirement is only for applications that are national in scope.

For sales promo campaigns with regional or local scope, the DTI offices will process sales promo applications as soon as possible, based on the Department Administrative Order 10-02 series of 2010.