The Department of Trade and Industry–Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (DTI-FTEB) issued a total of 40,855 licenses, permits, authorities, and accreditation in 2022, reflecting a 10 percent higher than the processed applications and issued permits in 2021 and 2020.
The agency attributed the increase to speedy and equitable complaints handling mechanisms resulting in a total of 27,947 complaints received in that year. The number of complaints was also 10 percent lower than the complaints received in 2021, which were mostly COVID-19 related concerns.
Out of the complaints received, the DTI-FTEB processed 5,687 cases under its jurisdiction, of which 5,070 were resolved.
Following the DTI's “no wrong door” policy, consumer complaints that were beyond the DTI’s jurisdiction were referred to the concerned offices or other government agencies.
On top, the DTI-FTEB also tightened market surveillance to ensure compliance with the Consumer Act of the Philippines (RA No. 7394), the Price Act (RA No. 7581 as amended by RA No. 10623), and the Law on Products Standards (RA No. 4109).
Throughout 2022, the FTEB monitoring teams inspected 750 supermarkets and groceries in the National Capital Region (NCR) to check the price and availability of supply of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPC), as well as the firms’ compliance with the latest Suggested Retail Price (SRP) Bulletin.
Establishments that were non-compliant with the latest SRP bulletin were issued with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) directing them to submit their explanation within 72 hours.
Meanwhile, the DTI-FTEB monitoring and enforcement teams checked 19,680 firms’ compliance with Trade and Industry Laws which resulted in the issuance of Show Cause Orders (SCOs) and Notices of Violation (NOVs) to non-compliant firms.
The ramped-up monitoring and enforcement cracked down on uncertified products worth P68,544,456.64.
The 839 percent hike in last year’s confiscation of uncertified products takes account of the heightened COVID-19 restrictions in 2021 which imposed limitations on both businesses and government operations.
Also, to support the national government’s resiliency and recovery efforts, the FTEB represents the Department in the Sub Task Group on Economic Intelligence (STGEI) where DTI-FTEB aids 39 witnessing and destruction activities of smuggled and illegally imported agricultural products in 2022.
Moreover, the Bureau assisted in four (4) joint operations of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Sugar Regulatory Board (SRA) which resulted in the seizure of 526,000 sacks of allegedly hoarded sugar said to be causing an artificial shortage.
Despite the easing and lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, the DTI-FTEB received 2,213 Safety Seal applications and approved 1,938. The remaining applications were either disapproved, withdrawn, or subjected to reassessment.
Further, the Bureau monitored the compliance of 3,150 firms to Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS). Out of the 966 non-compliant firms, 87.30%. have already complied with the request for corrective action, while the rest were already endorsed to their respective Local Government Units (LGU) for non-action.
Key to these milestones is the Bureau’s dedication to advancing its journey to go digital through the Integrated Registration and Information Systems (IRegIS) and the recently launched FTEB website.
DTI-FTEB also established an Online Monitoring Unit (OMU) tasked to intensify the monitoring and enforcement of Trade and Industry Laws even up to the digital spaces.
“The success of one bureau is the success of the whole Consumer Protection Group (CPG) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), at large. Therefore, I commend the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau for embodying excellence and genuine service,” said Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Atty. Ruth B. Castelo.
FTEB OIC Director Atty. Marimel D. Porciuncula and OIC Assistant Director Atty. Joseph Manuel P. Pamittan also underscored that last year’s breakthroughs reflect the DTI-FTEB’s strong commitment to reinventing and redefining its services and processes to protect consumers and uphold consumer welfare.