A TOTAL of 136 weighing scales were seized by the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) in Iligan City for having no valid stickers.
The weighing scales were seized during the Operation Timbangan launched simultaneously in Pala-o and Central Markets on Wednesday morning, July 12.
DTI-Iligan senior trade and industry development specialist Angelo Devero said the absence of stickers would imply that the weighing scales were not calibrated such that customers may have been misled of the true value of the products they purchased.
Devero said the weighing scales were seized from public markets, ambulant vendors, and owners of repair shops.
Owners of fuel stations and weighing scales not calibrated, including those without stickers and certificates, will be charged with corresponding penalties.
Under Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act, all instruments for determining weights and measures in all consumer and consumer-related transactions shall be tested, calibrated, and sealed every six months by the official sealer.
"They can get the weighing scales back once mapa-calibrate nila, butangan dayon ug stickers and seal and they will pay the penalty (They can get the weighing scales back once already calibrated. They should put stickers and pay the penalty)," Devero said.
"There will be a second round of enforcement, preferably sa hapon napud kay mas daghan daw diha ambulant vendors, ug even sa mga barangays na naay tindahan apilan pud ug adto (There will be a second round of enforcement, preferably in the afternoon bacause there are many ambulant vendors. We will also conduct enforcement in stores located in villages)," he added.
Devero said the operation was also conducted due to the significant number of complaints from consumers.
The Permits and License Division of the City Mayor's Office spearheaded the operation which covered 144 business establishments.
According to the DTI regional office, Operation Timbangan is part of DTI's intensified campaign in the monitoring of the price freeze.
Devero said none have so far violated the price freeze implementation, and that supply of basic commodities is enough and adequate.
"Ang amo lang gipaabot sa mga ambulant vendors ug mga establishments na gagamit sa weighing scales na dili lang gamiton kung wala pa na calibrate para sad dili ma-interrupt ilang negosyo because this is against the law (We like to tell the ambulant vendors and establishments not to use the weighing scales if these are not calibrated so they won’t have to experience interruption in their businesses, because this is against the law)," he added.