DTI cracks down on firms selling substandard goods

THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry is cracking down on companies selling uncertified and substandard construction materials to ensure the safety of consumers.

The agency’s latest inspection of 50 hardware stores in Quezon City, Caloocan City, Parañaque City and Muntinlupa City saw four shops selling over 700 pieces of equal leg angle bars and steel bars worth some P200,000 that do not conform to standards and mandatory markings.

In Muntinlupa, New Sankim Construction Supply was found with 278 pieces of underweight steel bars and equal leg angle bars while Tunasan Hardware was found selling 188 pieces of equal leg angle bars without appropriate markings.

Ekasy Construction Supply, meanwhile, was selling 273 pieces of steel bars and equal leg angle bars with no brand and no indication of grade and length, while in Caloocan City, Innie Construction Supplies had three pieces of underweight steel bars.

According to the DTI, these stores were not able to show either a Philippine Standard (PS) license or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) for the products—a violation of the Consumer Act of the Philippines and the Standards Law.

Trade Undersecretary Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba said the DTI had confiscated the products because these did not carry the required labels.

“The Department, through the DTIFTEB’s Adjudication Division, will conduct further investigation on these four hardware stores and check on their suppliers as manufacturers and importers of steel bars, which will also be held liable when found not conforming to the DTIBPS Product Certification Scheme. Appropriate administrative penalties will be imposed on them when found to be committing such violations,” Dimagiba added. The required labels for construction materials, according to relevant PNS, should include the name and address of the manufacturer or importer; the brand, trade name, and recognized trade mark; Philippine Standard (PS) or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark; and, country of manufacture. There are also other specific mandatory marks for each construction material such as the DTI-BPS approved logos for steel bars and equal leg angle bars.