Authorities seized P7.8 million worth of uncertified home appliances in Valenzuela City, preventing the sale of thousands of units of electric fans, cookers, blenders and washing machines of questionable quality.
In a statement on Friday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that its Task Force “Kalasag” (Shield) held last June 26 a joint operation with the office of Erwin Tulfo, partly-list representative of the ACT-CIS group and Valenzuela City’s Business Permit and Licensing Office.
According to the DTI, the operation was directed at a single shop, where they found 9,874 units of noncompliant appliances.
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These include 2,989 induction cookers worth P2.12 million; 2,432 electric kettles worth P970,368 and 1,885 electric fans worth P2.85 million.
Additional hauls include 1,546 electric rice cookers worth P971,026; 421 food processors worth P242,146.57; 362 electric blenders worth P138,714.78 and 239 units washing machines worth P453,861.
Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said in a statement the DTI shall relentlessly pursue and eliminate all uncertified products from the market, including household appliances that have not gone through the agency’s mandatory certification process.
“These uncertified appliances pose a grave risk to consumers, as their untested components and faulty wiring can lead to electric shocks, fires, injuries, and even fatalities,” Pascual said. “We will not rest until every uncertified product is removed, ensuring the safety and well-being of every Filipino consumer.”
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Further, the DTI said the products lacked the required Philippine Standard marks and Import Commodity Clearance stickers, violating Republic Act No. 4109 or the Products Standards Law.
The availability of the products that were confiscated were also found to be in violation of the DTI’s Department Administrative Order No. 02, Series of 2007, in relation to Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
According to the DTI, Task Force Kalasag has confiscated a total of 12,401 noncompliant household appliances worth P8.76 million since the launch of the specialized team back in April. —ALDEN MONZON