DTI: Stay Vigilant Against Holiday Scams for Balikbayan Box Transactions

The Department of Trade and Industry-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (DTI-FTEB) reminds the public to be vigilant especially the Overseas Filipinos (OFs) and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) when sending their balikbayan boxes this coming holiday season as influx of shipments is expected.

The FTEB implements the accreditation of seafreight forwarders (SFF) as part of its mandate to protect consumers from fly-by-night or unaccredited companies and entities.   

  

As of November 2023, the DTI-FTEB has issued 736 SFF accreditation of which 153 are engaged in Balikbayan box shipments.  

 

From 2018 to December 2023, the DTI-FTEB received and mediated a total of 520 complaints involving undelivered Balikbayan boxes. The following should serve as tips to the public when dealing with sea freight forwarders:  

 

• Check the list of Foreign Freight Forwarders and their DTI-accredited Philippine counterparts/agent from the DTI website to validate information:
  https://www.dti.gov.ph/consumers/accredited-seafreight-forwarders.  fairtrade@dti.gov.ph  
• Take note of the items not allowed to be sent through balikbayan boxes (e.g., currencies, checks, jewelries, firearms, ammunitions and explosives, etc.)  
• Declare all the contents of your balikbayan box per item and its corresponding value in the packing list.  
• Secure shipping documents such as official receipt, cargo receipt, invoice, Bill of Lading, shippers’ declaration or waybill.  
• Get the name and contact details of the foreign consolidator’s Philippine counterpart or agent-freight forwarder which should be accredited by the DTI.   
• Beware of exceptionally very low rates.  
• Beware of people posing as representatives of consolidators in your place. Ask for proper identification, check with the consolidators if they are an employee or authorized to represent the said companies.  
• Monitor the movement of your cargo from origin to destination.   
• Ask the consolidators on how to procure insurance for your cargoes.  
• Inform your consignee to check your cargo with the Philippine agent even before it arrives.  

DTI-FTEB Director Fhillip D. Sawali reminds the public to transact with accredited SFFs, especially during the holiday season as their legitimacy can be verified.    

Freight fowarders and firms found to be in violation of existing policies on balikbayan boxes shall be penalized such as imposition of administrative fines, issuance of cease orders, or suspension of cancellation of accreditation pursuant to applicable DTI rules.  

 

To ensure the delivery of balikbayan boxes, the DTI reminds the public to frequently visit the following sites:  

1. https://www.dti.gov.ph/konsyumer/accredited-seafreight-forwarders/ (list of accredited seafreight forwarders and their Foreign Agents sending Balikbayan Box) to get the contact information of Philippine agent-forwarder that should deliver the cargo.  
2. https://parceltracking.customs.gov.ph/kiosk.php (Bureau of Customs Parcel and Balikbayan Box Tracking System).  The BOC may be reached through BOCCares@customs.gov.ph for inquiries if the shipments are not yet cleared for delivery from BOC.  

DTI also encourages the consumers to report any unlawful acts and/or violations in relation to sea freight forwarding services. Complainants within the National Capital Region may file a complaint supported with documents, such as official receipts, cargo receipts, shippers’ declaration, house bills of lading, or waybills with the DTI-FTEB. Consumer complaints may also be sent through  consumercare@dti.gov.ph email or by calling the consumer care hotline at 1-DTI (1-384).

DTI Seizes almost P300K Prohibited Vape products in Valenzuela City Ops

The Department of Trade and Industry - Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (DTI-FTEB) seized 923 units of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products, and novel tobacco products worth Php 255,940.00 during its focused enforcement operation in Valenzuela City, on 04 May 2023.

Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Undersecretary Atty. Ruth B. Castelo and DTI-FTEB Director Atty. Fhillip D. Sawali led the inspection of vape products being sold by seven (7) vape stores in Valenzuela City.

Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie T. Gatchalian is also present in the said activity, expressing his full support for DTI’s enforcement efforts.

Three (3) non-conforming shops were issued a Notice of Violation (NOV), and they were required to submit a written explanation within 48 hours from receipt of the NOV.

The common violations of non-compliant vape establishments are the failure to post the minimum age requirement, the absence of point-of-sale signage, and the sale of vapor products that are appealing to minors, such as those with fruit, candy, and dessert flavors; and/or packaging that features cartoon characters, and the sale and promotion of the said products within one hundred(100) meters from any point of perimeter of a school, playground, or other facility frequented by minors.

During the course of the DTI’s operations, the City Government of Valenzuela conducted an inspection, and two (2) the monitored vape stores were issued with a closure order for operating without a business permit.

USec. Atty. Castelo emphasized that the significant result of the enforcement operation in Valenzuela and the accomplishment of the campaign against violators of R.A. No. 11900 and its IRR in the National Capital Region (NCR), reflect the dedication and commitment of the DTI to protecting consumers and ensuring that products prohibited in

RA11900 are not sold in blatant contravention of the law.

“The DTI enforcement teams regularly conduct steadfast surveillance monitoring and enforcement operations in all cities of the National Capital Region (NCR) to ensure that appropriate actions are being taken against violators of R.A. No. 11900 and its IRR, and that prohibited vape products being sold are seized to safeguard consumers, especially minors,” said USec. Atty. Castelo.

Meanwhile, Valenzuela City Mayor Gatchalian, the former Deputy Speaker of the 18th Congress and co-sponsor of the vape law commits to the City Government’s obligation of regulating vape shops.

“Valenzuela City stands with the DTI in protecting consumer rights and welfare. We appreciate their efforts in implementing RA 11900, and rest assured that this local government unit is also doing its best to ensure that vape shops are operating with business permits and other documentary requirements,” Mayor Gatchalian underscored.

With DTI-FTEB as the CPG’s implementing arm, Director Atty. Sawali welcomes and commends the support of other government agencies such as the City Government of Valenzuela in enforcing RA 11900 and its IRR, and upholding consumer protection and welfare.

As of 02 May 2023, the enforcement teams have already monitored and visited 427 physical vape stores. Consequent to surveillance, the enforcement teams conducted physical validation where 139 firms were found to be compliant, while 171 firms were issued with Show Cause Orders (SCO) and Notices of Violation (NOV), mandating non-compliant firms to submit a written explanation within 48 hours from their receipt of SCOs and NOVs. The 117 monitored stores, however, were either closed or no longer selling vape products.

Alongside its enforcement operations among physical stores, the DTI-FTEB Online Monitoring Unit (OMU) has also intensified its monitoring initiatives, resulting in 17,828 monitored online vape stores. Of these, 93 online stores were found to be compliant, while 17,735 were non-compliant.

Out of the non-compliant online stores, only 98 have valid addresses and have been subjected to validation and physical inspection. During the physical inspection, 32 NOVs were issued while the rest were either closed or cannot be located.

Recognizing the challenge of regulating vape products in online platforms, 30 SCOs were issued to different online platforms notifying that there are online merchants selling or offering for sale vape products that do not conform with RA 11900 and its IRR. They were given 48 hours from receipt thereof to submit a written explanation.

The OMU is monitoring seven (7) major online platforms and 14 company websites daily.

Through the combined efforts of the on-the-ground and online enforcement teams, there are already 57 formal charges filed against violators of R.A. No. 11900 and its IRR. A case has also been filed against one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the country.

RA 11900 lapsed into law on July 25, 2022. The IRR was issued on 05 December 2022, published in Philippine Star and Pilipino Star Ngayon on 13 December 2022, and took effect on 28 December 2022, 15 days after publication. The law vests the regulatory jurisdiction over vapes and other novel tobacco products to the DTI, while providing complementary roles to other government agencies particularly, the Department of Health (DOH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), and Local Government Units (LGUs).

On top of confiscated vape products, the nationwide campaign of DTI against uncertified items in the market is highlighted by the intensified enforcement of products under technical regulations mandating compliance with Philippine Standard Certification Mark Schemes, particularly Department Administrative Order No. 02, Series of 2007.

The DTI-FTEB has already monitored 1,078 firms, from January to April 2023, resulting in the sealing of 22,286 units of uncertified consumer products worth Php10,553,762.80.

To protect consumers or potential buyers of electrical and electronic products; mechanical or building and construction materials; and chemical and other consumer products and systems, DTI – Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) covered products and systems through implementing Mandatory Product Certification Schemes: the Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and/or Safety Certification Mark Licensing Scheme and the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Certification Scheme.

The DTI urges consumers to report violators of retailers, distributors, and manufacturers that sell uncertified items, through the Consumer Care Hotline at DTI (1-384) or consumercare@dti.gov.ph.

Trade Chief tightens price watch in markets with “Ikot Palengke” Marikina-run

23 November 2022—Trade Secretary Fred Pascual steered the pilot run of “Ikot Palengke,” to ensure that the Marikina City public market and supermarkets in the vicinity uphold fair trading and consumer protection amidst inflation and other unprecedented economic factors.

Tagged with the theme, “Tamang Timbang, Tamang Presyo Para sa Mamimiling Pilipino,” Secretary Pascual heads the monitoring task force of the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) in inspecting the: prices and supply of processed and agricultural basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs); accuracy of weights and measures; and appropriate price tags.

The “Ikot Palengke” also includes checking the prices and supply of Christmas staples in time with the release of the Noche Buena Price Guide, on the same day. The Price Guide is intended to boost consumer awareness and assist consuming public in making informed purchases.

“Today’s launch of the “Ikot Palengke” reminds everyone that we at DTI will always make sure to protect our consumers. Let this be a warning to unscrupulous traders and those who do abusive practices such as hoarding, profiteering and cartels. We will not tolerate such," Trade and Industry Secretary said. He continued “Huwag natin lalong pahirapan ang ating mga kababayan!"

Strategic market monitoring seeks to address the issues of profiteering and hoarding. It also seeks to ensure the availability of other alternative products to BNPCs in case of supply shortage. Regular market monitoring guarantees that there will be no artificial shortages that will affect prices.

The Republic Act No. 7581 or The Price Act, as amended, mandates implementing agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure stable prices and supply of BNPCs.

Furthermore, the DTI as part of the implementing agencies of the Price Act (Republic Act No. 7581, as amended by RA No. 10623, is mandated to coordinate and rationalize government programs aimed to stabilizing prices and supplies of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs).

The DTI-FTEB conducts weekly monitoring of the price and supply of basic necessities such as, but not limited to, canned sardines, processed milk, powdered milk, coffee, bread, instant noodles, salt, detergent soap, bottled water, and candles; and prime commodities such as, but not limited to, canned meat, vinegar, patis, soy sauce, toilet soap, batteries, flour, cement, hollow blocks, construction nails, light bulbs, electrical supplies, and steel wires.

The DTI urges consumers to report retailers, distributors, and manufacturers that sell basic necessities above their SRPs or uncertified items, through the Consumer Care Hotline at DTI (1-384) or consumercare@dti.gov.ph.