By Charissa Luci-Atienza
The House Committee on Trade and Industry has approved a consolidated bill seeking to institutionalize the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) 'Timbangan ng Bayan Centers' in all markets nationwide.
(PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN)
The House panel, chaired by Valenzuela City 1st district Rep. Wes Gatchalian approved the measure mandating all local government units (LGUs) to set up 'Timbangan ng Bayan Centers'.
“The practice of vendors, manipulating the scales to cheat their customers is far too common in the markets of the country. It is not isolated and it happens everywhere, in Metro Manila, the Visayas and even in Mindanao,” Gatchalian said.
“Consumers in markets do not have the equipment to check the accuracy of the products that they buy. By the time they find out that they have been cheated, they have already left the market which makes it very difficult for them to file a complaint,” he said.
He said the panel's passage of the bill seeks to breathe life into the DTI's initiative, which has come to an end because of lack of funds.
The consolidated measure mandates all LGUs to establish a 'Timbangan ng Bayan Center' in all markets, public or private, big or small.
Under the bill, weighing scales shall be accessible to anyone who wants to verify the accuracy of the quantity and weight of the products purchased.
The proposed Timbangan ng Bayan Act tasks the local treasurer to ensure that the weighing scales are always accurate.
“On top of allowing consumers to weigh and measure the products they bought, the measure also serves as a deterrent for unscrupulous vendors because the penalties imposed under the Consumer Act will be increased,” Gatchalian said.
Under the proposed Act, any person who tampers, vandalizes, or destroys any Timbangan ng Bayan shall be penalized.
For any person who fraudulently alter any scale, balance, weight or measure, whether sealed or not, he or she shall pay a fine ranging from P50,000 to P300,000 and shall be imprisoned from one year to five years, it said.