Tighter watch for expired, defective X’mas goodies sought
Senator Mar Roxas today called on the government to be more vigilant in protecting public interest against unscrupulous businessmen who take advantage of the holiday rush consumer spending by selling expired and defective Christmas delicacies and stuff.
Roxas, chairman of the Senate trade and commerce committee, said he has received increasing complaints on expired Christmas goods like hams and cheese balls and defective flashing lights and other holiday displays.
“Sobra na ang pag-abuso sa aton pumuloyu sining tuso nga mga negosyante. Dapat magbantay kita agud dili mangin biktima nila (The abuses of these scheming businessmen in the country are too much. We have to be vigilant to avoid being their next victims),” said the former secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry.
“Kinahanglan tamdon sang gobyerno ang kaayohan sang pumuloyu. Pigado ang aton kabuhian.
Makalulu-oy man ang aton mga kasimanwa nga mangin biktima pa sining mga pahitu
(Government must keep watch over the welfare of the public. Our economy is down. I feel sorry for our poor countrymen who could be the next victims of these schemes),” he added.
DTI complaint desks nationwide have been swamped with consumer protests for expired goodies they have bought in supermarkets. Expiry dates of the goodies – which include pear-shaped, cured or sweetened hams and other cold cuts, cheese balls, canned goods and pasta noodles – were either erased or tampered with.
Every year, the DTI gets complaints about defective Christmas decors and other decorations sold in “tiangge” stalls, which usually spring up months before the Holiday season.
The Visayan senator said the public must be more meticulous in checking out expiry dates of Christmas delicacies sold in markets all over the country to avoid getting sick.
“Maghalong kita tanan. Mas masadya ang Paskua kon tingub nga nagasaulog ang aton pamilya.
Masubu kaayo nga ma-ospital sining panahon (Let us all be careful. Christmas is best spent with our loved ones in the comfort of our homes. It is very lonely to be at the hospital during this season),” Roxas said.
“Ululupod naton nga saulugon ang kabulahanan sining 2010 nga may paglaum sa aton
tagipusu-on (Let’s celebrate the blessings of this year and greet 2010 with hopes in our hearts),” he said.
