The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) vowed to bolster its monitoring and enforcement activities to ensure compliance with product quality standards and to raise awareness of consumer rights across all businesses.
In a statement on Tuesday, July 16, Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual announced that the DTI's Task Force Kalasag is now extending its operations to cover regions beyond metropolitan areas.
Pascual said the task force’s primary objective is to confiscate products that fail to meet the required Philippine Standard (PS) Marks and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Stickers.
During a recent enforcement operation in Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, the DTI confiscated uncertified consumer goods valued at nearly P9.7 million.
The operation targeted 226 establishments, resulting in the identification of 62 non-compliant businesses across the two provinces.
The seized uncertified consumer products included ceramic tiles (P7.4 million), automotive vehicles (P639,700), plywood (P527,165), vape devices (P444,630), steel wires (P277,800), lead-acid batteries (P108,850), appliances (P104,162), and television sets (P66,100).
The DTI also confiscated polyethylene pipe for potable water (P47,110), deformed steel bars (P44,200), and electrical products (P27,830).
These confiscated products were found to lack the required PS Marks and ICC Stickers, thereby violating Republic Act (RA) No. 4109, also known as the Product Standards Law, as well as Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 02: 2007.
“In a mission to apprehend all violators, Task Force Kalasag is proof that the DTI is proactively expanding its coverage beyond metropolitan areas,” Pascual said.
“The Department is committed to strengthening our monitoring and enforcement efforts across all businesses in safeguarding product quality standard and establishing awareness of our consumer rights,” he added.
Meanwhile, Trade Fair Trade Group Supervising Head Assistant Secretary Agaton Teodoro Uvero underscored the importance of consumer vigilance.
“These uncertified and untested products pose danger and hazards to Filipino consumers. We strongly encourage everyone to verify the presence of the PS mark and ICC stickers to ensure that what they are buying has been proven safe and of quality,” Uvero said.
“Through such efforts, all of us can do our part to eliminate substandard materials in the market,” he added.
The DTI has issued a notice of violation, requiring a written explanation within 48 hours from receipt. Failure to comply will lead to a formal charge with a corresponding penalty.