BAGUIO CITY – – The Department of Trade and Industry reminds business establishments and consumers on the importance of ensuring that the products they sell or buy are standards- conformant and government- certified to prevent possible hazards to the health and life of the people.
The DTI – Baguio Benguet provincial office along with their industry partners, spearheaded on Friday the destruction of non – conformant and uncertified products confiscated during market enforcement and monitoring activities last December 2018.
The non – conformant products destroyed included 90 pieces of angle bars; 2,420 (10mm) steel bars; 7 flat glass (48” x 72”); 902 pieces of cigarette lighters and 17 Christmas lights with a total value of P361,000.
DTI Baguio – Benguet Provincial Director Freda Gawisan, in an interview, stressed the importance of ensuring that the products being sold in the market are conformant with the Philippine National Standards set by the Bureau of Philippine Standards, a DTI attached bureau.
Under the DTI product certification program, the department has to make sure that there is no product being sold that is hazardous to health or pose danger to the safety and life of the people, Gawisan said.
For business establishments, Gawisan reiterated that selling of non – conformant and uncertified products can lead to penalty or even closure.
She also called on consumers to be well – informed citizens and help the government monitor the selling of uncertified and standard non–conformant products.
Rudolp Miranda of the Philippine Steel Association also outlined the importance of compliance with standards of products such as construction materials to ensure the safety of structural projects.
Citing the case of the confiscated steel bars in the destruction activity, Miranda stressed that once it goes out of the market and used in household or community construction projects, it can compromise the overall design and safety of the structure.
Other industry partners present during the DTI activity were Edgar Moratin of the Chamber of Philippine Electric Wire and Cable Manufacturers, Inc; June Vasquez of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association; Wilson Agno of Flat Glass Alliance of the Philippines and Nelson Gutierez of Shapes, Angle Section Manufacturing Inc.
As part of the campaign, DTI also conducted on Jan. 24 to 25 a Products Standard Conformance Seminar at Hotel Veniz here, attended by consumers, retailers, businessmen, contractors and government agencies involved in construction projects. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
