BAGUIO CITY — Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) personnel on Friday destroyed PHP361,000 worth of substandard items seized last December.
DTI officials, with representatives from product manufacturers destroyed the items composed of seven flat glasses and Christmas lights, 90 angle bars and 2,490 steel bars confiscated during inspections in December.
The destruction was done at the DTI warehouse in the city.
“The products were confiscated last month in business establishments based on the complaint of some customers,” said Freda Gawisan, DTI-Benguet provincial director.
Gawisan said the establishments where the items were seized have been cautioned against selling substandard products, which will prompt the agency to file appropriate charges in court.
She said they were accompanied by Philippine Steel Association representative Rudolp Miranda; June Vasquez of Ceramic Tile Manufacturer Association; Wilson Agno of Flat Glass Alliance of the Philippines; Nelson Gutierrez of Shape Angle Section Manufacturing,Inc; and Edgar Muratin of the Chamber of Philippine Electrical Wires Manufacturer,Inc. in inspecting the confiscated sub-standard items and during the destruction.
“They are our partners. They go with us during inspections to certify if a product is substandard or not,” Gawisan said.
Gawisan urged the public to be vigilant and scrutinize the products they buy to avoid spending their money on items that do not meet the quality standard.
She said that it is very important for the consumers to be discerning with the products they buy, especially construction materials which may cause the destruction of their real property or loss of lives.
Miranda, during the destruction, explained that the weight of an angle bar is 3.5 kilograms and those confiscated weighed lighter than the required.
“Those are cheaper but because it cannot carry the load of the concrete, the structure might collapse in time,” Miranda said.
Miranda urged the consumers, especially those constructing their houses to check the materials they buy to make sure that these products have met the safety standards.