P1.8M worth of seized items destroyed by DTI

Thousands of confiscated items worth P1.8 million were destroyed on Friday at the compound of the Department of Trade and Industry-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau in Makati City.

The items, 3,100 in total, ranged from helmets, vape products, monobloc chairs, sanitary wares and even firecrackers.

According to DTI Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles, these items did not go through the proper process of testing for quality assurance. Because of this, the items did not have PS mark or ICC sticker. 

“‘Yung iba naman dito, meron silang PS mark or ICC sticker pero peke. Hindi napatunayan ng mga sellers na ito, mga manufacturers na ito, na dumaan sa proseso sa DTI,” she said.

(Others have fake PS mark or ICC sticker. The sellers or the manufacturers could not prove that the items were checked by the DTI.)

The DTI warned the public against purchasing and using products with fake PS mark or ICC sticker.

“Wala tayong assurance kung safe ito for our consumers. ‘Yung quality nito hindi rin tayo sigurado. Halimbawa, ‘yung helmet. Hindi siya na-test kung safe siya for our motorcycle riders,” Nograles said.

(We have no assurance if these products are safe for our consumers. We can’t be sure of their quality. For example the helmets. They were not tested to ensure the safety of our motorcycle riders.)

Meanwhile, the vapes that were destroyed had flavor descriptions and enticing designs that were meant to attract minors. 

“Bawal ‘yung mga vape products na targeted toward minor,” Nograles said.

(Vape products targeting minors are illegal.)

The DTI also assured the public that the seized items will not find their way back to the market.

“‘Yung mga bagay na puwede i-recycle, ire-recycle. Pero sisiguraduhin natin ‘yung mga nakokolekta at nako-confiscate ay hindi babalik sa merkado,” said DTI Undersecretary Jose Edgardo Sunico.

(Items that could be recycled will be recycled. But what we are assuring the public is these confiscated items will not be returned to the public.) —KBK, GMA Integrated News