AS THE Yuletide season approaches, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) warned Negrenses anew against buying substandard products, particularly Christmas lights.
Reginald Hudierez, trade and industry specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, said Monday, October 9, that starting this month, they will conduct massive inspection to ensure that uncertified products will proliferate in the province, especially in Bacolod City.
Hudierez said there are still establishments which are non-compliant to the guidelines thus, buyer are urged to be vigilant and to immediately report erring stores to the DTI.
"To the buying public, let us not compromise the safety and welfare of our family by patronizing products that are cheaper but of low quality and substandard," he added.
Republic Act 7394, or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, mandates establishments to secure Philippine Standard (PS) and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) for Christmas lights and other electrical products, including appliances.
During the inspection, all products without PS and ICC markings will be subjected to confiscation. Establishments will face penalties and formal charges.
The law provided that on top of confiscation of substandard products, penalties will also be imposed on erring establishments amounting to P25,000 to P300,000 per kind depending on the level of offense.
Enforcement operations cover establishment premises, including stock and storage rooms, it added.
In 2016, the DTI-Negros Occidental, through its regular monitoring and enforcement operation, seized almost 4,000 pieces of various substandard products from a general merchandise store in downtown Bacolod.
Most of these items were electrical products which pose risk to health and safety of the consumers.