DTI Leads Special Monitoring and Enforcement Activities in NCR
Philippines , 13 September 2021
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducts simultaneous monitoring and enforcement activities to ensure availability of reasonably priced, safe, and quality goods in the market.
Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo together with Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) Director Jeremy S. Marquez, led the price and supply monitoring of BNPCs in line with the recently published suggested retail price (SRP) of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs) as of 29 August 2021, monitoring of frozen meats in line with the Presyong Risonable Dapat (PRD) Program to supermarkets and groceries, and enforcement operations on the technical regulations in the nearby establishments.
DTI FTEB’s monitoring teams reported compliance with the Republic Act (RA) No. 7581 or the Price Act by the three supermarkets, as the BNPCs sold are within the aforementioned SRP. Further, meat stalls of the same supermarkets were noted for their compliance to the PRD Program on frozen meat products.
“Ten days after the publication of SRP, monitoring shows that prices of BNPCs are not yet adjusted by the supermarkets due to their excess stocks. In a few days, consumers may feel the minimal increase of BNPCs given the recently published SRP.” Undersecretary Castelo underscored.
Undersecretary Castelo lauded the establishments that still show their support through fair compliance on the implemented programs despite the pandemic.
Meanwhile, FTEB’s enforcement teams simultaneously conducted enforcement operations to 18 nearby hardware and construction supplies and issued One (1) Notice of Violation (NOV) to a non-compliant firm for selling electrical products without Philippine Standard (PS) markings or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker which violates the provisions of the Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2 Series of 2007 pursuant to Republic Act 4109 or the Standardization Law of the Philippines and the safety provisions stated under the Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines mandated under the Philippine National Standard (PNS) requirements.
FTEB’s inventory report showed 257 products were confiscated by the enforcement team with an estimated value of P8,500.00.
“As long as there are still non-conforming products in the market, DTI will not stop in conducting enforcement activities for the safety of our consumers”, DTI-FTEB Director Marquez emphasized.
