DTI, QC LGU Survey BNPC Prices to Gear Up for Typhoon Season

With the onset of the rainy season, the Department of Trade and Industry – Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG) through the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Quezon City checked the supply and prices of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPC) in Quezon City, 26 May 2023.

CPG Undersecretary Atty. Ruth B. Castelo, Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Carlo G. Sotto, and FTEB Director Atty. Fhillip D. Sawali led the DTI price monitoring teams in verifying retail firms’ compliance with the latest DTI Suggested Retail Price (SRP) bulletin released on 08 February 2023.

The Quezon City LGU expressed their support for the said price monitoring initiative, as the head of the city's Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC). The LPCC is mandated to coordinate programs with the concerned government agencies to stabilize prices and supply of BNPCs and to undertake measures during emergencies, particularly calamities, or state of emergencies.

Through this tight price watch, the monitoring teams affirmed the compliance with the latest SRP of the three (3) supermarkets inspected in Quezon City, as well as the requirement of appropriate price tags on products.

The monitored firms carried an average of 44 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs), 23 of which were priced within the SRP level while 21 were priced even lower than the SRP in the latest bulletin.

The ramped-up enforcement resulted in the sealing of a unit of child restraint systems, motor vehicle brake fluids, electric fans, electric food mixers, blenders, and fuse holders worth Php110,334.00.

Out of the 12 inspected firms, four (4) were issued with a Notice of Violation. As part of due process, the erring firms were given 48 hours to submit an explanation related to the findings of noncompliance.

The nationwide campaign of DTI against uncertified items in the market highlights its effort of ensuring quality and safe products in accordance with the Philippine Standard Certification Mark Schemes and its technical regulations, particularly Department Administrative Order No. 02, Series of 2007.

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, the DTI- Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) regulates 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.

In addition, the teams inspected eight (8) vape shops selling vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products, and novel tobacco products to ensure their compliance with the requirements of RA 11900 and its IRR. Five (5) non-conforming shops were issued a Notice of Violation (NOV), requiring each of them to submit a written explanation within 48 hours from receipt thereof. The inspection resulted in the sealing of 142 units worth Php43,390.00.

The common violation of vape shops are: (1) No signage to inform consumers against the use of children and non-smokers; (2) Selling vape products that target children, through flavors or cartoon characters; (3) Selling vape products in locations frequented by children, such as schools and playgrounds; (4) No age confirmation process against children's interests; and (5) Vape product ads that target children and non-smokers.

RA 11900 lapsed into law on July 25, 2022. Consequently, 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.

It covers vapor products/refills, vapor product devices, heated tobacco products (HTP)s, HTP consumables and devices, as well as novel tobacco products.

The DTI urges consumers to report violators through the Consumer Care Hotline at DTI (1-384) or consumercare@dti.gov.ph.

The SKUs priced below the latest SRP bulletin recorded a price difference that ranges from Php0.13 to Php7.00.

The price monitoring initiative demonstrates the Quezon City LGU’s close coordination with the DTI to ensure reasonableness of prices and availability of supply of basic necessities and prime commodities, especially in cases of emergency.

Quezon City Vice Mayor Sotto assures the public that the city has a stable supply of basic needs to sustain emergencies such as typhoons or heavy rains.

Meanwhile, USec. Atty. Castelo emphasized that the DTI is always ready to implement a price freeze upon a declaration of a state of calamity.

“The DTI is ready to freeze prices based on the prevailing price data gathered by the monitoring teams in their regular monitoring of price and supply of basic necessities and prime commodities,” Usec. Atty. Castelo said.

She also urged manufacturers to ensure adequate supply in areas prone to hazards.

Likewise, FTEB Director Sawali expressed the price monitoring teams’ commitment to protecting consumers from unreasonable price increases more so during emergencies and similar circumstances.

Republic Act No. 7581, as amended by R.A. 10623, or the Price Act provides the DTI and other implementing agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Energy the mandate of ensuring the availability of BNPCs at reasonable prices at all times without denying legitimate businesses a fair return on investment.

The DTI releases the SRP bulletin to guide consumers in making informed purchasing decisions.

Section 6 of the Price Act states that prices in an area or under a state of calamity or under an emergency shall be automatically frozen at their prevailing prices for a period of 60 days unless sooner lifted by the President.

Apart from checking the prices and supply of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPC), the team inspects compliance of products with technical regulations as well as vape regulations.

DTI Monitors the Prices of BNPCs, School Supplies in Caloocan

Following the release of the latest Suggested Retail Prices (SRP) or price guide bulletin, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB), keeps a close watch on basic and prime commodities including school supplies within Caloocan on 19 August 2022.

Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Assistant Secretary, Atty. Ann Claire C. Cabochan, led the DTI monitoring teams in inspecting stock keeping units (SKUs) in two (2) supermarkets and two (2) bookstores.

Three (3) of the firms visited are compliant with the SRP bulletin released last 12 August 2022, while only one was issued a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) for a school supply item priced higher than the SRP. With this, the store has to submit a written explanation within 72 hours from receipt of the letter.

“Even if the non-compliant firms expressed their commitment to comply, they will still be issued with an LOI. Through the regular inspection by our price monitors, rest assured that the DTI will act on any further noncompliance with the SRP,” Asec. Cabochan underscored.

Asec. Cabochan emphasized that adhering to the SRP bulletin reflects fair and honest business practices thereby increasing consumer confidence.

The monitoring teams also observed that one of the inspected supermarkets does not carry any of the 16 SKUs of canned sardines in tomato sauce listed in the latest SRP bulletin. Thus, the DTI team apprised the store manager to relay the matter to their distribution channels.

“It would be better if the supermarkets carry SKUs in the SRP bulletin as it provides consumers with a wide range of quality and reasonably-priced products,” Asec. Cabochan reiterated.

Through their careful assessment of the prices of bread, the teams also affirmed that all of the brands are compliant with the SRP. Prior, Asec. Cabochan noted that the Consumer Protection Group (CPG) has seen a significant decrease in the prices of wheat in the World Market that is expected to temper any increases in the price of bread.

Republic Act No. 7581, as amended by R.A. 10623, or the Price Act gives the DTI and other implementing agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Energy, the mandate of ensuring the availability of basic necessities and prime commodities at reasonable prices at all times without denying legitimate businesses a fair return on investment.

The DTI-FTEB weekly monitors 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, paper, school supplies, batteries, flour, cement, G.I. Sheets, hollow blocks, construction nails, light bulbs, electrical supplies, and steel wires.

The DTI enjoins 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.

DTI Seizes Uncertified Products, Checks SRP Compliance in Manila

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB), sealed Php108,000.00 worth of uncertified products; and verified Suggested Retail Price (SRP) compliance among Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities (BNPC) in its simultaneous technical regulation enforcement and price and supply monitoring in Manila, on 11 July 2022.

Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Undersecretary Atty. Ruth B. Castelo and Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) Officer-In-Charge Director Atty. Marimel D. Porciuncula led the DTI monitoring and enforcement teams in visiting two (2) supermarkets and inspecting six (6) firms within Binondo, Manila.

The intense enforcement has led to the confiscation of 960 uncertified inner tubes worth Php53,392.00 and 1,456 uncertified electrical appliances worth Php55,070.00. Electric grills, food processors/mixers, blenders, rice cookers, electric kettles, LED lamps, electrical tapes, and batteries are among the electric equipment withdrawn for destruction.

Usec. Castelo emphasized that FTEB is consistent and steadfast in its enforcement activities. However, she acknowledged the challenge as sellers of uncertified and substandard products are persistent.

“We do not want to repress the sellers. But, we want to penalize them for still selling substandard and uncertified products while they are well aware that such is prohibited. These products should not even be in the market as they impose risks to consumers’ safety,” Usec. Castelo said.

The sellers of confiscated items have violated the following:

DTI-Department Administrative Order No. 02, Series of 2007 prescribes the compliance to Philippine Standard Certification Marks Schemes; and
DTI-Department Administrative Order No. 01, Series of 2008 mandates labels or packaging that indicate the consumer products’ nature, quality, quantity, and other relevant information, in the English or Filipino language.

From January to June 2022, FTEB has already confiscated 84,119 pieces of uncertified products worth Php21,139,676.89.

Meanwhile, through the team’s price monitoring, Usec. Castelo affirmed that supermarkets are compliant with the latest SRP bulletin, released last 11 May 2022.

“Stores are compliant with the DTI SRP bulletin; in fact, most products that we monitored today are being sold in retail at prices that are Php1.00 lower than our SRP,” Usec. Castelo underscored.

Furthermore, she urged supermarkets to offer a variety of goods so that consumers can choose from a wide range of quality and reasonably-priced products.

The DTI enjoins 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.

DTI Inspects Price and Supply of Noche Buena Items, BNPCs in QC Supermarkets

The Department of Trade and Industry’s Consumer Protection Group inspected the prices and supply of noche buena items and basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPC) in three Quezon City supermarkets on Monday, 20 December 2021.

DTI-CPG Undersecretary Atty. Ruth B. Castelo and DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) Assistant Director Atty. Marimel D. Porciuncula led a monitoring team not only to ensure that there are enough stocks of BNPCs and Christmas food products this holiday season, but also to check if retailers follow the suggested retail price (SRP) as published by the DTI.

“It’s great to see that some products are being offered in a much lower price than our current SRP, that’s why we encourage the suppliers to double the delivery of noche buena products to the retailers until the end of the holiday season so consumers can have ample supply for their shopping needs,” said DTI-CPG Undersecretary Castelo.

According to the report, all three supermarkets were found to be following the SRP for their displayed products. However, one establishment was found to be lacking necessary price tags on some of their products, which resulted in the issuance of a Show Cause Order (SCO).

Pursuant to Article 81 of the Consumer Act of the Philippines or Republic Act No. 7394, "It shall be unlawful to offer any consumer product for retail sale to the public without an appropriate price tag, label, or marking publicly displayed to indicate the price of each article and said products shall not be sold at a price higher than that stated therein and without discrimination to all buyers. Further, price tags must be written clearly and legibly to prevent overpricing and unjust trade.

“In case there is an initial finding of violation, such as lack of price tags, it is part of administrative due process, that the establishment is directed to submit a written explanation within the prescribed period and if the establishment fails to do so, that’s the time we will file a formal charge against them for violating the Consumer Act of the Philippines,” DTI-CPG Undersecretary Castelo explained.

To see the list of noche buena products and its corresponding SRP, please follow this link: www.dti.gov.ph/konsyumer/e-presyo/. Further, the DTI encourages the consumers to be more attentive to undue price adjustments and illegal acts of price manipulation from retailers. Call 1-DTI (1-384) or send consumer complaints to consumercare@dti.gov.ph.