The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized nearly P15 million uncertified household appliances from a warehouse in Biñan, Laguna.
In a statement, the DTI said the joint operation, codenamed "Task Force Kalasag," was conducted on Sept. 17 in response to a tip from the DTI CALABARZON office.
According to DTI, authorities discovered a stash of 93,800 electric fans valued at 12.4 million and 104,283 self-ballasted LED lamps worth P2.3 million that did not comply with Philippine safety standards.
“This Task Force Kalasag operation underscores our ongoing efforts to combat the dangerous and unfair practices that put consumers at risk,” DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque said in a statement.
“The DTI will work relentlessly with other government agencies until every illicit household product is eradicated from our markets,” she added.
The seized items were found to be lacking the required Philippine Standard markings, Import Commodity Clearance stickers, and other necessary information.
Samples have been sent to the DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards for testing.
The establishment involved in the sale of uncertified products has been issued a Preliminary Preventive Order, restricting the movement of the seized goods without a written directive from the Fair Trade Group-Fair Trade and Enforcement Bureau (FTG-FTEB).
The DTI and NBI have been working together to combat the proliferation of substandard products through joint operations and a memorandum of agreement signed in June 2024.
This collaboration has resulted in seizures and the closure of warehouses selling illegal goods.
The Task Force Kalasag has seized nearly P284 million worth of substandard products in the past six months. (Derco Rosal)