AN OFFICIAL of the Consolacion Public Market warned consumers to be more cautious against unscrupulous vendors trading inaccurate weight measurements of some of their products at the market.

The warning came after nine defective and uncalibrated weighing scales were confiscated from some vendors in the market during a surprise inspection conducted on Saturday, August 13, 2022, together with the Consolacion Municipal Police.

Engineer Richly Marie Sygaco, the public market head, told SunStar Cebu on Thursday, August 18, that this problem had been in the market for a long time. This, she added, is the reason why they conducted regular surprise inspections, which were halted in 2020 because of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Sygaco said the weighing scales seized were classified as defective with broken parts and non-compliant for not bearing stickers indicating the scale's calibration, while some have been tampered.

These weighing scales will be disposed accordingly, said Sygaco.

She added that based on reports they have gathered, these weighing scales lacked at least one gram per kilo, making a product supposedly sold for one kilo only weighing 3/4 grams on a registered weighing scale.

Sygaco said she is set to meet with the Consolacion Vendor's Association head to discuss the matter.

From June 11 to August 19, 2022, Sygaco they collected at least 20 defective weighing scales. This number is quite less in 2019 when they collected about 100 faulty weighing scales.

But Sygaco said the current figure is already alarming, thus she reminded the traders that all weighing scales should get through inspection for verification before they are used in the market.

As stated in Consolacion's Municipal Resolution 128, vendors found using defective weighing scales are fined P500 for the first offense, P1,500 for the second offense, and P2,500 for the third offense.

Sygaco said erring vendors who continue to use faulty weighing scales despite all the penalties given would be subject to imprisonment.

Sygaco reminded all vendors to have their weighing scales verified to avoid penalties and inconveniences for being non-compliant.

She also advised consumers to scale the goods they have purchased at the four "timbangan ng bayan" stations located in the market to ensure that the weight is accurate. (HIC)