The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has urged consumers to prioritize product safety and quality over low prices, warning that substandard goods can lead to greater financial losses and even endanger lives.
“Let us not sacrifice safety for savings because it can cause the loss of a bigger amount of our money and even our lives,” said Frankincense Macula, chief of the DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards’ Electronics and Electrical Products Certification Division, during a Consumer Welfare Month forum Tuesday.
Macula said the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) requires covered locally manufactured products to bear the Philippine Standard (PS) mark and imported products to carry an Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker before they are sold in the market.
The bureau obtains product samples from warehouses and sends them to third-party testing facilities to check compliance with applicable standards. Products that pass the assessment receive premarket certification, he said.
Consumers can check the marks to help verify whether covered products meet safety and quality requirements, Macula added.
He warned that substandard electrical appliances can cause fires and put lives at risk, making any savings from cheaper products potentially costly.
Samuel Gallardo, DTI assistant regional director for the Cordillera Administrative Region, urged consumers to report substandard products regardless of their price.
“Each product has a standard, and part of the role of DTI is to warn the public about substandard products and what to avoid through the trainings,” Gallardo said.
He encouraged consumers to prioritize quality, remain aware of their rights and file complaints when products or services fail to meet expectations.
Complaints involving online purchases and transactions at physical stores may be filed virtually with the DTI, which can facilitate dialogue and mediation between consumers and businesses, he said.
“Something has to be done to correct the mistakes in the market because this is not just about waste of money but also the safety of the buyer, the community,” Gallardo added.
Product safety caravan
The DTI-BPS conducted a product safety caravan in Baguio City, holding lectures and briefings for engineering students from eight higher education institutions in the Cordillera region.
In a message, BPS Director Neil Catajay said the bureau ensures that manufactured products meet prescribed standards so consumers receive value for their money.
He said engineering students were invited not only for academic purposes but also because they would soon become licensed professionals whose work could affect public safety.
The BPS sets standards and oversees product testing and certification for construction materials, chemicals, consumer goods, and electrical and electronic products.
Catajay said standards ensure that products from different manufacturers meet consistent specifications and function as intended.
The nationwide caravan is part of the DTI’s activities for Consumer Welfare Month this October. (PNA)
