ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo (Facebook)

House Deputy Majority Leader ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo says that "hundreds of thousands" of Filipinos could lose their jobs if fake and substandard offshore appliances from China continue to be sold online. 

For this reason, Tulfo will lead the filing of a resolution urging the House of Representatives to investigate the "unfair online sales practices" of offshore appliances directly imported into the country from China and sold at a cheaper price. 

“Kung hindi ito mapipigilan, maraming manufacturers sa Pilipinas na sumusunod sa tamang alituntunin ng batas natin ang mapipilitang magsara dahil sa pagkalugi. At kapag nangyari ito siguradong daan-daang libong kababayan natin ang mawawalan ng trabaho,” Tulfo said in a statement on Sunday, Aug. 11. 

(If this isn't stopped, a lot of law-abiding manufacturers in the Philippines will be forced to close down due to losses. And if this happens, hundreds of thousands of our countrymen would surely lose their jobs.) 

The neophyte lawmaker said that as many as 15 businessmen--mostly manufacturers and sellers of appliances--personally came to his office to seek help because their businesses have been affected by the rampant sale of cheap but substandard and fake products. 

Among the local manufacturers that approached Tulfo's office and asked for help were American Home, Asahi, Astron, Camel, Carribean, Concepcion, Cooldaddy, Dowell, Eureka, Fujidenzo, Hanabishi, Karrlsson, Kyowa, Kuchenluxe, Nikon, Nova, Tefal, Tiger, Union and 3D. 

They have a combined total of 300,000 Filipino workers. 

“Itong mga negosyante na ito, sila yung mga nagbabayad ng tamang buwis at sumusunod sa lahat ng regulasyon at alituntunin na pinaiiral ng ating batas. Pero sila ang lubos na apektado at ngayon at nalulugi dahil sa hindi patas na bentahan sa merkado,” Tulfo stressed. 

(These are the businessmen who pay the right taxes and follow all the regulations set forth  by law. But they are the ones that are adversely affected and losing money because of the non-level playing field in the market.) 

Tulfo also questioned agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) as to why they seem to just let such products enter the country without going through government regulation. 

The ACT-CIS solon said that while he wasn't against online selling, he insisted that offshore products must also go through the laws set by the government. 

The resolution to be filed Monday, Aug. 12 says that “The newly enacted Republic Act (RA) No. 11967, otherwise known as the Internet Transactions Act, provides for a regulatory framework that requires players in e-commerce to adhere to specific rules and regulations on the protection and promotion of innovation, competition, secure online transactions, and environmental sustainability.” 

“Despite this regulatory framework, there have been reports that offshore brands, particularly those from China, have been allowed to directly deliver items to the country—through platforms like Shopee and Lazada, without adhering to the same taxation and regulatory requirements imposed upon domestic appliance manufacturers,” it added. 

The resolution also stressed that most of the “offshore brands” didn't undergo government regulations, that's why they can sell their products in a cheaper price. 

“After receiving complaints about establishments that sell uncertified appliances, the DTI recently raided and seized appliances imported from China and Korea without Import Commodity Clearance stickers—a significant indication in the packaging which proves that the product is safe, of good quality, and is not harmful to its user,” it further read.