13 establishments in Zanorte violated FTL in 2012, says DTI

By Alfonso T. Ruda

DIPOLOG CITY, Feb.15 (PIA)---Thirteen business establishments in Zamboanga del Norte were among the 94 business establishments in Zamboanga Peninsula which violated the Free Trade Law(FTL) in 2012, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Mr. Julius Salaveria, Customer Welfare Division Chief, DTI-Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Office based in Dipolog City said that “of the 13 violators from the province, six were able to immediately reopen their businesses after correcting their mistakes, while the remaining 7 violators were formally charged in court.”

Salaveria further disclosed that of the seven establishments, only two were penalized for their failure to rectify their violations amid repeated warning from the DTI. They were ordered closed and meted out a penalty of P45,000.00.

Twenty-one establishments, on the other hand, were penalized for their violations under the price tag law while 23 firms were found violating certain regulations under sales promotion, and four others under the business name law.

DTI-ZN also reported that a total of P154,000.00 of fines were meted out to erring establishments for their violations of certain provisions of Department Order No. 2 series of 2007 on Philippine Law on Standards.

The DTI, whose mandate includes the protection and promotion of consumer welfare bared that 46 of the violators were from Zamboanga City, 13 from Zamboanga del Norte and the rest were from Zamboanga Sibugay.

DTI has collected a total of P195,000.00 from penalties of various violations.

DTI is now calling on the consumers to be vigilant and urges them to report to appropriate authorities any unethical practices or violations they may notice with the establishments.

DTI exercises jurisdiction over cases involving consumer product quality and safety; deceptive, unfair sales acts and practices; consumer products and service warranties; price tag; mislabeling/fraudulent advertising; service and repair shops; advertising and sales promotion.

Among those falling under the Department of Agriculture (DA) are quality and safety, and labeling and packaging of agricultural products, while food, drugs, cosmetics, and devices and hazardous substances fall under the Department of Health (DOH).(FPG/DTI/ATR/PIA9)