DTI 6 conducts capability building for Standards Officers
Enforcement yields 6 firms selling uncertified products
Industry Expert on Electrical Devices Engineer
George Chua and Melecia Pait of DTI-Guimaras
Provincial Office withdraw uncertified compact
fluorescent lamps without the ICC mark during
the enforcement activity May 8, 2008 in Iloilo
City. Partly hidden are Felisa Judith Degala and
Demar Solinap of DTI-Iloilo Provincial Office.
Seventeen (17) Standards and Enforcement Officers of the Department of Trade and Industry from the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, and the Regional Office, underwent a three-day Capability Building Training on May 6-8, 2008 at the DTI - 6 Audio Visual Room.
The seminar focused on Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2 series of 2007 entitled "Defining the Responsibilities and Liabilities of Manufacturers, Importers, Traders, Wholesalers, Distributors, Retailers, Service Providers and Agents, With regard to Product and Services Covered by Philippine Standard Certification Mark Schemes and Prescribing Penalties for Violation thereof."
Engineer Samson D. Paden, Head of the Standard Enforcement Market Surveillance and Consumer Assistance (SEMSCA) of the Bureau of Product Standards and Engineer Mario Gaudiano of SEMSCA, Ms. Victoria Padilla, Executive Director of Philippine Product Safety and Quality Foundation, Inc. (PPSQF) and industry experts from Manila were the resource speakers in the activity. Among the major topics taken up were, Market Monitoring Schemes, Product Quality Guides and Enforcement Procedures on wiring devices, automotive battery, plywood, ceramic tiles, LPG cylinders and steel bars.
DTI Regional Director Dominic P. Abad said that the DTI in the region is bent on enforcing the Product Standards Law making sure that products under mandatory product certification that are available in the market conform with the Philippine National Standards (PNS) to ensure the welfare and protection of consumers. Philippine made products should be stamped with the Quality check seal or the Philippine Standard mark (PS mark) while imported goods should bear the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) to show that these products conform to the quality and safety standards.
The training was capped by an enforcement activity in nine different establishments in Iloilo City. Six (6) establishments were found selling uncertified products like knife switches, compact fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps and fuses, steel bars, plyboard, automotive batteries and tubeless pneumatic tires. A Notice of Violation was issued to the erring firms while the non-conforming products were inventoried and sealed pending formal investigation.
Abad advises manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers to ensure that the mandatory products conform to the Philippine National Standards before selling them in the market. He is urging consumers to be vigilant. A well informed and vigilant consumer is the best protected consumer. (Ruby M. Melliza/DTI-6)