The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB), found Php457,188.60 worth of nonconforming products; and verified the compliance of retail firms to the latest DTI Suggested Retail Price (SRP) bulletin in its simultaneous technical regulation enforcement and price and supply monitoring in Bulacan, on 18 November 2022. 

Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Assistant Secretary Atty. Ann Claire C. Cabochan led the DTI monitoring and enforcement teams in inspecting 23 retail firms within Bulacan. 

Through intense enforcement, the DTI tracked assorted products that did not go through the Mandatory Product Certification Schemes implemented by the DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS), as they do not have the requisite Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and/or Safety Certification Mark and the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Certification. 

These products include 11 rolls of Pipes (PE) for potable water supply; 42 rolls of Low Carbon Steel Wires; and 697 pieces of motorcycle helmets; induction cookers, monobloc chairs/stools, electric blenders, electric grills, microwave ovens, extension cord sets, Edison screw lamp holders, GI steel pipes, and fire extinguishers. 

“The DTI’s intensified enforcement operations reflect its commitment to ensure that only safe and reliable products reach each Filipino consumer,” Asec. Atty. Cabochan said. 

Out of the 23 firms inspected in the province, 4 non-compliant firms were issued Notices of Violation (NOVs), mandating them to explain within 48 hours from the receipt of the notice. 

The nationwide campaign of DTI against uncertified items in the market underscores the enforcement of DTI technical regulations mandating compliance with Philippine Standard Certification Mark Schemes, particularly Department Administrative Order No. 02, Series of 2007.  

From January to November 2022, FTEB has already confiscated 219,693 pieces of uncertified products worth Php67,490,780.90 

To protect consumers or potential buyers of electrical and electronic products; mechanical or building and construction materials; and chemical and other consumer products and systems, DTI-BPS regulates 87 products and systems by implementing the Mandatory Product Certification Schemes. 

With the DTI price monitoring teams, Asec. Atty. Cabochan also inspected five (5) supermarkets in Bulacan to check their compliance with the latest SRP bulletin, released last 12 August 2022. 

Out of the five (5) supermarkets, three (3) are compliant; while two (2) received Letters of Inquiry (LOI) for selling prime commodities and basic necessities (BNPCs) priced above their SRP. The monitoring teams also noted that all of the inspected supermarkets are compliant with the requirement of appropriate price tags on products.  

Asec. Atty. Cabochan reiterated the importance of carrying shelf keeping units (SKUs) listed in the SRP bulletin to provide consumers with a wide range of quality and reasonably-priced products. 

The DTI urges consumers to report retailers, distributors, and manufacturers that sell basic necessities above their SRPs or uncertified items, through the Consumer Care Hotline at DTI (1-384) or consumercare@dti.gov.ph. *

Date of released: 27 December 2022