The House committee on trade and industry has approved a proposed law seeking changes to the Consumer Act. Among its key provisions include empowering the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to close down shops found selling products that have not passed or underwent safety standard checks.

This is beyond the DTI’s current mandate to order a recall or ban of goods found to be unsafe for the public.

“The implementing agencies are empowered to close or shut down the business premises of any establishment caught selling, distributing, manufacturing, producing, displaying, or importing consumer product adjudged to be injurious, unsafe or dangerous,” the consolidated draft bill reads. “The closure or shutting down of the concerned establishment… shall stay in force until such time that its safety can be assured or measures to ensure its safety have been established.”

The bill also puts into law the eight consumer rights: the right to basic needs, right to choose, right to representation, right to redress, right to consumer education, right to safety, right to healthy environment, and right to information.

It also specifically defines that pseudo-investments and pyramid schemes are among the prohibited methods for selling products and services. It also requires all local government units to put up Timbangan ng Bayan (public weighing scale) centers for all local markets to ensure accurate measurements.

Product labels must also carry English or Filipino translations, among other changes sought under the measure.

Retailers found violating provisions of the Consumer Act will be fined between P50,000 to as much as P1 million, with a possible three to seven years in jail.

DTI SECRETARY TO LEAVE POST AT YEAR-END
The Philippines’ Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo will likely leave his post after the country is finished with hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting at the end of this year, President Benigno S. C. Aquino III said.

He [Domingo] submitted his resignation but the effectivity date is indefinite, maybe after APEC or until the end of the year, Mr. Aquino said in Filipino during a media interview at the Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo City. “We have not agreed on the date, but I expect he will not leave especially not when he is needed the most.”

The APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting will be held in Manila from Nov. 18 to Nov. 19 which will be attended by member economies. A 2015 APEC Typhoon Symposium will also be held from Nov. 24 to Nov. 25.

Last Saturday, Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma, Jr. said Mr. Domingo has submitted his resignation to President Aquino.

Mr. Domingo has already expressed his intentions of going back to the private sector, the President said, adding that he will talk to the Cabinet official sometime this week.

While several Cabinet members have intentions to run for public office, some are tired and others wish to return to the private sector, Mr. Aquino said.

Last month, Mr. Aquino said there will be changes in the Cabinet as then Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas II, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis N. Tolentino, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director-General Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, who intend to run in 2016 elections, will file their certificates of candidacy in October. — Melissa Luz T. Lopez and Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza

Source: www.bworldonline.com