By Komfie Manalo
Government operatives seized some P89.76 million in contrabands for violating several laws, including uncertified and non-compliant products and vape units.
The Department of Trade and Industry'sIndustry's (DTI) Task Force Kalasag and Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) director Fhilip Sawali said P61.87 million worth of the seized products were essential consumer goods and some P27.88 million were vape units.
"Our Task Force Kalasag has observed a recent proliferation of uncertified and definitely, unsafe home appliances," Sawali said.
He added that these uncertified products are sold on electronic commerce or e-commerce platforms.
"We send show-cause orders to the platform and then attach the URL of the post that offered the uncertified product. Within two days, they can take down the products from their platform. Luckily, for the big platforms, they can take down 100 percent of those uncertified and violative produces," he added in a separate interview."
He added that among the recent raid operations of the task force were on June 26 in Valenzuela, with total confiscated goods valued at P7.75 million; on July 3 in Plaridel, Bulacan, with a haul amounting to P9.35 million; and on July 15 in Tanza, Cavite amounting to P8.28 million.
In a separate statement, DTI said some P9.7 million worth of uncertified goods were also seized from 62 establishments in Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur from June 24 to 28.
The FTEB official said the DTI recommended closing the raided warehouses. The local government units of Tanza and Valenzuela have already implemented the shutdown of the facilities, while FTEB is still awaiting the closure of the Plaridel warehouse.
Among the confiscated products under technical regulations were ceramic tiles/sanitary wares, plywood, lead-acid batteries, appliances, television sets, tires for automotive vehicles, electrical lighting and wiring devices, dry chemical portable fire extinguishers, pipe for portable water supplies, lighter, monobloc chairs, helmet and visors, motor vehicle brake fluid, inner tubes for tires, steel wires and angle bars, deformed steel bars, medical grade oxygen, safety belts, and unplasticized polyvinyl chloride or UPVC rigid electrical conduit.
DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual also urged Filipinos to become more vigilant and check proper markings when buying essential consumer products.
For instance, a product label written in a foreign language—not in English or Filipino—is a clear sign that the product is uncertified or does not comply with the law.
He added that the government is also losing revenue collection from these imported products that did not undergo the proper process.
The trade chief said the Task Force Kalasag will continue cracking down on uncertified products nationwide. The group is closely coordinating with the DTI's regional and provincial offices and local police authorities to conduct inspections and raid operations.
"These uncertified and untested products pose a danger and hazards to Filipino consumers. We strongly encourage everyone to verify the presence of the PS mark and ICC stickers to ensure that what they are buying has been proven safe and of quality," DTI assistant secretary Agaton Teodoro Uvero said.
"Through such efforts, all of us can do our part to eliminate substandard materials in the market," he added.
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