Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Rising prices have taken a toll on the majority of Filipinos. Each day, we hear complaints about inflation, knowing that a thousand pesos today won’t buy the same set of goods it did a year ago.
In this climate of increasing prices, what makes matters worse is the prevalence of unscrupulous business owners selling products at a higher price or those who may be selling at the correct price but substituted with substandard goods.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), tasked with monitoring prices and setting standard product quality, plays a crucial role in protecting Filipino consumers from such practices. The DTI ensures that products are sold at their correct prices and adhere to the mandated quality standards.
In a recent Senate report, Senator Mark Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship, joined the DTI in monitoring prices and inspecting product quality. Their mission: to check if the products in the market conform to the Philippine Standards or PS Quality for locally made products or the Import Commodity Clearance or ICC.
Joined by Asec. Jean Pacheco, OIC of DTI’s Consumer Protection Group, and Neil Catajay, director of DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS), they visited a store to check the prices of construction materials, furniture, and fixtures. Products such as light fixtures, tiles, plywood, and appliances were also scrutinized.
Villar expressed satisfaction with the number of merchants and retailers complying with the standards set by the DTI-BPS. He noted the presence of QR codes on products, which is included with the price tag to show that a certain product is compliant with quality standards.
These QR codes, when scanned through an app, reveal the technical details of the product, including brand name, reference standard, and if applicable, the PS mark with license number.
With the holiday season approaching, the senator stressed the need for consistent price monitoring, particularly for food items. It’s a recurring challenge for the government that, during the December rush, unfair trade practices harm consumers trying to celebrate a decent Noche Buena. Now, the DTI is requesting support from the public to report merchants or vendors who are non-compliant with DTI’s SRP and quality standards. The department has established a DTI Hotline 1384 for public complaints, and reports can also be sent to the agency’s social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.
In a statement, DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual said that in order to boost the Philippine economy, the DTI “puts emphasis on cultivating fair trade while upholding consumer protection.” This came on the heels of a two-day enforcement operation conducted in the middle of the year by the DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (DTI-FTEB), which wiped over 24,044 units of uncertified products worth eight million pesos.
“Let the intense enforcement operations be a strong warning that the department will not hesitate to act against violators of Fair Trade and Industry Laws,” Pascual said.
In these tough times, where the daily wage often falls short of feeding a family of four, every peso matters. Business owners and sellers have every right to make a profit, but not at the public’s expense, where the correct prices of goods are disregarded. Cooperation between buyers and sellers is crucial as their relationship is symbiotic. Without one, the other cannot exist. As consumers, we are part of the equation to ensure fair trade for all.
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
