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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Senate approves 'Timbangan ng Bayan' bill to prevent cheating in markets

Senate approves 'Timbangan ng Bayan' bill to prevent cheating in markets

Published Dec 26, 2019 12:00 am
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola The Senate Committee on trade, commerce, and entrepreneurship has recommended the approval of a bill to institutionalize the establishment of Timbangan ng Bayan Centers in the country protecting consumers from unscrupulous business practices in markets, particularly from the use of inaccurate weighing scales. Senate of the Philippines (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Senate of the Philippines (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, committee chairman, recently sponsored Senate Bill No. 1241 that amends Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines and mandates provincial, city, and municipal governments to establish Timbangan ng Bayan Centers in all public and private markets in the country, including malls, supermarkets, flea markets, specialty stores, and grocery stores in their respective localities. This includes Senate Bill No. 741 filed by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto. Under the bill, the centers must have the necessary weighing and measuring instruments that shall be made available to all persons who need to confirm the accuracy of the weight of the products they have purchased or about to purchase. The market or mall supervisor shall be in charge of safekeeping and maintaining the Timbangan ng Bayan centers, and recording the products lacking in quantity or were substandard, and where they were bought. The measure also increases the penalties for those who fraudulently alter tamper, vandalize, or destroy weighing scales, including sealed Timbangan ng Bayan instruments, with fines ranging from P50,000 to P300,000, from the current P200 to P1,000; and imprisonment of up to five years. Successive violations of the proposed law shall also result in the automatic cancellation of the business permit of the erring individual or business. The bill, if signed into law, would task the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Trade and Industry to come up with its implementing rules and regulations in coordination with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the League of Provinces of the Philippines, the League of Cities of the Philippines, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and other relevant government agencies and stakeholders. Senators are expected to debate on the measure when sessions resume in January next year.
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