DAVAO CITY – The Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB), in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) XI, conducted its E-Kalasag monitoring and enforcement activity from September 15 to 19 in the Davao Region, resulting in the confiscation of non-compliant products valued at P3.6 million.
FTEB’s Task Force Kalasag, which conducted operations in all provinces in Davao Region except Davao del Sur, seized 17,252 pieces, 111 boxes, and 93 rolls of substandard products. These included ceramic tiles, lighters, self-ballasted LED lamps, electric fans, PVC electrical tapes, non-refillable LPG gas cartridges, tires for automotive vehicles, inner tubes for tires, black and galvanized longitudinally welded steel tubes, and BI/GI steel pipes, among others.
Furthermore, the seized products lacked the required Philippine Standard (PS) marks, Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers, licenses (i.e. license to manufacture for manufacturers or license to sell for retailers), and other necessary manufacturer information (e.g. name and address of manufacturer), violating Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 4109 or the Product Standards Law, and Department Administrative Order No. 02:2007.
“This operation is under FTEB, DTI XI only provided guidance and assistance, particularly on the locations given the Team Kalasag’s unfamiliarity with the area,” DTI XI regional director Romeo L. Castañaga said.
Castañaga assured that due process shall be observed in all cases, while FTEB will file formal charges and adjudicate these cases, if necessary.
“This is part of DTI’s mandate and commitment in protecting consumers by ensuring that the products sold in the market are safe and certified,” Castañaga added.
In total, the E-Kalasag operation monitored 419 firms, and 43 notices of violation were issued. DTI XI
