DTI seeks ties with BPLOs to protect consumers

In order to enhance monitoring of compliance to trade laws and standards, the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) expressed plans for potential partnerships with the Business Permit and Licensing Offices (BPLOs) in Metro Manila.

Last Feb. 1, FTEB hosted an online conference gathering BPLO officers from the local government units (LGU) of Manila, Navotas, San Juan, Valenzuela, Malabon, Muntinlupa, and Quezon Cities, as well as the municipality of Pateros.

The meeting, led by FTEB Senior Trade-Industry Development Specialist Kristina D. Javier, highlighted the agency’s mandate on ensuring consumer protection and consumer welfare, including discussions on how BPLO can aid the operations of DTI’s regulatory arm.

DTI-FTEB Director Atty. Fhillip D. Sawali broached the potential collaborations that can be established with BPLOs, noting existing joint programs with LGUs such as the crackdown on vape products, enforcing the Vape Law or Republic Act (RA) 11900, and the “Ikot Palengke” initiative of the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC).

Sawali assured that the FTEB is willing to collaborate “in achieving the common goal of intensifying consumer protection.”

FTEB, the largest bureau of the Consumer Protection Group (CPG), is the DTI’s regulatory and implementing arm in enforcing 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).

Its operations are being done in partnership with consumer groups, industries, and government agencies like the Department of Agriculture (DA), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Metro Manila Council (MMC).