KORONADAL CITY – A total of P2.3M worth of uncertified products that it has seized from local stores during its product surveillance and enforcement operations were destroyed by the Department of Trade and Industry Region 12 (DTI-Region 12).
According to Jude Constantine S. Jaugan, Regional Director of DTI-Region 12, the seized products were found to have no safety marks in the form of Philippine Standard (PS) marking and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker.
Dir. Jaugan also added that the selling of products without these required safety marks is a clear violation of the Consumer Act of the Philippines and the Standard Law.
The uncertified products were found in seven out of 19 establishments inspected in the region by DTI-Region 12 when it conducted series of surveillance and enforcement operations leading to the confiscation of assorted light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, electrical products, household appliances, and equal leg angle bars.
Mary Ann M. Morales, DTI-Region 12 Consumer Protection Division Chief, said on Wednesday that the biggest forfeiture is the equal angle bars in Midsayap, Cotabato, with the products assessed to value at P2.229M.
The series of disposal was jumpstarted by DTI-Region 12 in General Santos City on 21 June, followed by Koronadal City on 22 June, and in Midsayap as the last leg of the agency’s compliance to its Department Administrative Order 17, Series of 1990 which states that seized products that adversely affect safety shall be destroyed or condemned.
Aside from the confiscation and destruction of their uncertified products, the violators in this recent DTI-Region 12 enforcement will face administrative cases and pay the penalty of P17,500 to P52,500.
Present during the events are representatives of the Commission on Audit, consumer groups, environment, and natural resources offices, and the local media. DTI-12 encourages consumers to check for PS and ICC marks before buying products under the Philippine National Standard (PNS) list of mandatory certifications.♦
Date of Release: 24 June 2021