CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Central Luzon reported Friday, January 31, an increase on complaints versus television sets and appliances in the region during the last two quarters of 2019.
According to DTI-Central Luzon Information Officer Warren Serrano, consumer issues about television sets were the main subject of complaints in the third and fourth quarters of 2019.
From the total of 192 consumer complaints received in the fourth quarter of 2019, 24 were about defective television sets. Defective cellphones, which were the main subjects of consumer complaints before, were on second spot with 20 complaints received.
Serrano added that for the third quarter of 2019, there were 22 complaints about defective refrigerators while there were 21 complaints about television and 16 complaints about cellphones.
Offices of the DTI across Central Luzon processed more complaints about TV sets in the fourth quarter of 2019, in which a total of 192 consumer complaints were received. The figure is higher than the 188 received for the same period in 2018. Complaints about motorcycles and air-conditioning units followed with 12 and 10, respectively. Completing the list of most number of complaints are vehicles with eight, laptops and refrigerators with seven complaints, respectively. There were also four complaints each about beauty products and freezers, while another three complaints were about speakers.
Compared to the fourth quarter in 2018, the same pattern of complaints was observed as most complaints received then were about television sets (17), cellphones (15), aircon (11), motorcycle (seven) and refrigerators (six).
The DTI-Central Luzon continues to remind consumers to verify the quality and safety of household appliances and electronic gadgets by checking for proper markings and labels. The said products are classified as mandatory products and should bear Philippine Standards marks with the appropriate alphanumeric codes.
For imported products, the products should bear the Import Commodity Clearance hologram stickers with eight-character alphanumeric code at the bottom portion. Certified products are also listed at the website of the DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards at www.bps.dti.gov.ph.
Consumers are also asked to call the DTI Consumer Care Hotline 1-384 should they have consumer issues or concerns about products they buy.