The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Palawan has warned consumers and store owners in Balabac about products from Malaysia being sold in local markets, especially if these items do not have the Philippine Standard (PS) Quality or Safety Mark and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker.
Senior Trade and Industry Development Officer Persival Narbonita said Malaysian goods can easily enter Balabac due to its proximity.
But he stressed that these products must meet national standards and that consumers must be able to understand the information written on their labels.
He pointed out that location should not be a reason for consumers to accept foreign labels they cannot read.
“Lalo na ‘yung mga produktong galing sa labas ng Pilipinas, dapat naiintindihan o nababasa ng mga mamimili ang nakasulat. Kasi nasa batas din ‘yan na dapat naiintindihan ng local consumers kung ano ang nakalagay o nakasulat sa produktong bibilhin nila,” Narbonita said.
“Kung hindi mo mababasa, pwede mong ireklamo ‘yan sa amin. Sa batas kasi natin, applicable sa lahat at dapat nababasa o naiintindihan ng lahat tulad ng may translation sa English,” he added.
The DTI’s monitoring also covers online purchases. Consumers may file complaints if they discover a problem with a product within two years of buying it.
“Dalawang taon ay pwedeng magreklamo si consumer mula sa kanyang pagbili at napansin na may problema ang kanyang nabili,” Narbonita said.
The agency urged the public to immediately report to its business counselors any product they see without proper labeling or certification so that appropriate action can be taken.
