consumer protection

Bam: Consumer Act amendments to give DTI more teeth, cover ICT

In a move to give the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) more teeth against erring businesses and enhance consumer protection, Sen. Bam Aquino has filed a measure amending the 24-year-old Consumer Act of the Philippines.
 
“In order to build stronger commercial systems and maintain thriving markets, there is a need to bolster the rights of consumers and we need to do this at the soonest possible time,” Sen. Bam said in Senate Bill No. 1241 or the Revised Consumer Act of the Philippines.
 
“The measure aims to amend the 1992 Act in order to address the current issues facing our consumers and markets,” added Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress.
 
If enacted into law, the measure gives the DTI authority to close down any establishment caught in the act of selling, distributing, manufacturing, producing, displaying or importing hazardous and defective products.
 
It also increases administrative fines against erring businesses from P50,000 up to P10 million. The current law imposes a fine of P500 to P300,000.
 
“The fines should amount to five percent of the gross value of sales of the consumer product or service subject to the consumer complaint,” he stressed.
 
The amendments include provision for new information and communications technologies (ICT), such as mobile phones and internet, which is crucial with the advent of the e-commerce industry.
 
In addition, the bill provides greater protection to consumers, particularly from false and deceptive advertising using mobile phones and the Internet.
 
“Proposed provisions in this measure also aim to better protect consumers from dangerous and unsafe products and abusive sales practice,” said Sen. Bam.
 
The proposal also reiterates the eight consumer rights (rights to basic needs, safety, basic information, choose, representation, redress, consumer education and healthy environment) and five consumer responsibilities (critical awareness, action, social concern, environmental awareness and solidarity).
 
Furthermore, the measure mandates manufacturers to maintain a consumer hotline or service center that consumers can easily reach for complaints and inquiries by phone, email or other effective means.
 
In addition, foreign products with labels written in foreign characters or language will be allowed entry into the country only if they have a corresponding English or Filipino translation.
 
The measure will place the National Consumer Affairs Council (NCAC) under the Office of the DTI Secretary to give it more independence and power.
 
It will also be expanded to include the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Information and Communication Technology. 
  
Businesses offering price-discounted rates for single or bulk purchase of products or services will be exempted from the requirement to secure a sales promotion permit , alleviating them of the added burden. This move will help to facilitate e-commerce in the country.

 

Bam: Guard vs proliferation of substandard Christmas lights, other products

With the Christmas season fast approaching, Sen. Bam Aquino called on concerned government agencies to prevent the proliferation of substandard Christmas lights and other products that endanger the lives of consumers.

“Dahil malapit na naman ang panahon ng kapaskuhan, asahan na ang pagdagsa ng mga produktong depektibo na maaaring magdulot ng panganib sa ating mga mamimili, gaya na lang ng hindi sertipikadong Christmas lights,” said Sen. Bam.

“Ngayon pa lang, kailangan nang bantayan ng mga kaukulang ahensiya ng pamahalaan ang mga nasabing produkto upang hindi na makarating pa sa ating mga mamimili,” added Sen. Bam.

During his stint as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam conducted spot inspection in several stores in Metro Manila to ensure the safety of Christmas lights being sold in the market.

Last year, Sen. Bam and a team from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) found boxes of substandard Christmas lights in Divisoria and Dapitan.

Sen. Bam also visited several supermarkets and stores to check if there was enough supply and if they were following the suggested retail price (SRP) issued by the DTI for Noche Buena goods.

Sen. Bam appealed to traders to be responsible in selling goods and to follow the SRP released by the DTI.

“Nananawagan din tayo sa ating mga mamimili na huwag tangkilikin ang mga produkto na mababa ang kalidad dahil sa halip na tayo’y makamura, nalalagay pa sa panganib ang ating mga buhay,” the senator stressed.

The lawmaker has been pushing to add more teeth to Republic Act (RA) 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines to empower and protect citizens more against substandard goods and services.

He is set to file amendments to the Consumer Act next week.

7 Posibleng Focus Areas sa mga Huling Buwan ng Aquino Administration

Naghahanda na ang bayan sa 2016 na halalan ngunit may oras pa ang administrasyong Aquino na i-push ang pag-unlad ng Pilipinas. Ang kailangan lang ay fortitude at focus. Kaya ‘eto ang 7 na posibleng target areas para sa huling hirit ng Aquino Administration!

1. Pabutihin ang ating public transportation systems. Ramdam na ramdam ng mamamayan hindi lamang ng ng mga taga-Metro Manila, pati na rin sa mga kalapit na probinsya ang mga problema sa pampublikong transportasyon. Maliban sa buhol-buhol na trapik, lalo lang lumalala ang pila at siksikan sa MRT/LRT, jeep, bus, at FX. May oras pang ayusin ang mga ito para mabawasan ang stress ng Pinoy commuters!

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2. Tutukan ang K to 12 implementation. Nalalapit na ang implementasyon ng senior high school sa bansa at may malaking potential ang K to 12 program na iangat ang kakayahan ng ating mga graduates. Hindi ito simpleng reporma kaya kinakailangang tutukan nang mabuti ang roll out nito. Open ang DepEd sa mga suggestions natin at maaari ring maging involved sa inyong local public school. (For concerns and suggestions, email action@deped.gov.ph or call 636-1663/633-1942.)

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3. Patibayin ang ating agricultural sector. Isa sa sa mga sektor na nangangailangan ng tulong ay ang mga magsasakang Filipino. Dapat lang silang tulungan na maging efficient sa paggamit ng mga makabagong technology na makakapagpadami ng ani para matugunan ang demand ng merkado. Kailangang maisama ang mga magsasaka sa sustainable supply chain gaya na lamang ng mga Kalasag farmers na pangunahing supplier ng Jollibee ng sibuyas. Dahil sa programang ito, naging steady ang kanilang produksyon at umunlad ang kanilang mga buhay.

Dito makakatulong ang mga Negosyo Center na itinatayo sa Pilipinas. Makakakuha ng suporta ang mga negosyanteng Pinoy dito, magsasaka man, market vendor, tricycle business owner, o craftsmaker, para mapalago ang kanilang mga pangkabuhayan.

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4. Siguraduhin na patas ang labanan sa pagnenegosyo. Sa era ng ASEAN economic integration, lalong dadami ang papasok na negosyante sa Pilipinas. Ang Philippine Competition Act ay naisabatas na upang siguraduhin na walang pang-aabuso ng dominant position at walang matatapakang micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSMEs). Ngayong mayroon na tayong rule book sa pagnenegosyo, challenge ang makahanap ng mga mahuhusay, matatalino, at tapat ang mapapabilang sa Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) para ma-enforce ang patakaran laban sa anti-competitive acts.

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5. Protektahan ang Filipino consumer. Sa pagdami ng mga negosyo at produkto sa merkado dala ng kumpetisyon, dadami ang puwedeng pagpilian ng ating consumers. Kalidad ang magiging labanan ng mga produktong bukod sa presyo. Subalit, mas exposed rin tayo sa sub-standard products at mga posibleng scams! Kailangang patuloy na bantayan ang karapatan ng mga consumers at i-revisit ang ating Consumer Protection policies.

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6. Tutukan ang pagpasa ng mga mahalagang panukala. May oras pa para maisabatas ang mga landmark bills na pending sa Kongreso. Ready na ang sambayanan na ibahin ang sistema ng pagpili ng mga mamumuno at magkakaraoon na ng pagkakataon ang mga bagong mukha at pangalan sa halalan sa tulong ng Anti-Dynasty Law at SK Reform Bill. Tuluyan na ring dapat isulong ang ilan pa sa mga mahahalagang batas gaya ng FOI bill at Basic Bangsomoro Law.

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7. Siguraduhin na malinis at maayos ang nalalapit na Eleksyon. Sa final leg ng administrasyon, sana’y dumami pa ang mga Pilipinong makikilahok sa pagboto ng mga karapat dapat na lider ng ating bansa. Kakabit nito ay ang mas maayos na proseso ng pagreregister at ang actual na pagboto sa 2016. Huwag hayaan na mamuno ang mga may pansariling intensyon lamang. Maging bukas ang isip at maging masuri sa lahat ng kakandidato.

Huling hirit na natin ito at marami pa tayong mababago upang sundan ang ‘daang matuwid’! Ilitaw ang diwa ng bayanihan at makiisa sa pagkilos tungo sa pagbabago!

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Ano sa tingin ninyo ang kailangang bigyang pansin ng administrasyong Aquino sa mga huling oras nito? Sama-sama nating isulong ang pag-unlad ng Pilipinas! Share ninyo naman ang mga ideya ninyo sa team.bamaquino@senado.ph!

Bam to Consumers: Be Vigilant against Fake, Tainted Products

Senator Bam Aquino has called on consumers to be more vigilant on what they purchase, with the reported entry of fake rice and noodles and tainted candies in the market.

“Consumers have to be always on guard on what they buy, now that fake and tainted products have made it to the market,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“Mahalagang malaman at mabantayan kung ligtas ba o hindi ang ating binibiling produkto dahil buhay at kalusugan natin ang nakataya,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement amid reports of fake rice and noodles reportedly being sold in Davao City. At the same time, around 2,000 people suffered food poisoning after consuming tainted durian candies in the Caraga region.

“We call on our small businesses to ensure that our products are safe and fit for consumption for the welfare of our consumers,” Sen. Bam, a staunch advocate of the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country, stressed.

Earlier, Sen. Bam has filed a measure seeking to amend the 23-year-old Consumer Act of the Philippines to give it more teeth and make it more effective in protecting the welfare of consumers.

“In order to build stronger commercial systems and maintain thriving markets, there is a need to bolster the rights of consumers and we need to do this at the soonest possible time,” Sen. Bam said in his Senate Bill No. 2699.

If enacted into law, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be authorized to close down any establishment caught in the act of selling, distributing, manufacturing, producing, displaying or importing hazardous products.

In case of product recall, manufacturers of defective products will also be required to give notice to every person to whom such consumer product was delivered or sold to. 

The measure also raises the administrative fines against erring manufacturers from P50,000 up to P10 million, depending on the discretion by the Trade Secretary. The current law imposes a fine of P500 to P300,000.

Lemon Law OK ‘Major Win’ for Consumers – Sen. Bam

Senator Bam Aquino called President Aquino’s approval of the Philippine Lemon Law as a “major victory” for consumers as it provides them with much-needed protection against defective vehicles.

“We welcome its passage as it came during a time where owning a car is a necessity to keep up with the fast-paced society we live in,” said Aquino, the measure’s main sponsor at the Senate.

“The Lemon Law provides car owners with a blanket of protection for their hard-earned investments and sets consistent standards of quality and performance in the auto industry,” added Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

On Sunday, Malacanang announced the signing of Republic Act 10642 or An Act Strengthening Consumer Protection in the Purchase of Brand New Motor Vehicles.

The law mandates the return to consumer the full value of money if the motor vehicle that was bought would not be of standard and quality, 12 months or 20,000 kilometers from date of original delivery.

If the consumer remains unsatisfied with the efforts to the repair of the vehicle up to four times, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will exercise exclusive and original jurisdiction over disputes.

In his sponsorship speech, Aquino stressed the urgent need to protect car buyers, now that motor vehicles are crucial in present time where mobility is needed for business transactions to thrive daily.

“We want to protect consumers who use cars every day. The quality of cars that they purchase should match the work they put to earn a living,” Aquino said.

Squeezed! Lemon Law Hurdles Bicam, Nears Enactment into Law

After years of waiting, a law that protects buyers from defective motor vehicles has finally been passed, Senator Bam Aquino announced.

The Senate has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the Philippine Lemon Law of 2014 before the body’s sine die adjournment Wednesday.

After that, it will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Aquino’s approval.

Earlier, the bicameral conference committee adopted the House version of the Lemon Law, authored by Las Pinas Rep. Mark Villar.

“The passage of the Lemon Law is crucial since owning a vehicle is crucial in today’s fast-paced life, especially for businessmen and entrepreneurs,” said Aquino, sponsor of the consolidated bill filed by Senators Cynthia Villar and Jinggoy Estrada.

“Aside from consumer protection, the Lemon Law will provide consistent standards of quality and performance in the auto industry,” he added.

The law calls for the return to consumer the full value of money if the motor vehicle that was bought would not be of standard and quality, 12 months or 20,000 kilometers from date of original delivery.

If the consumer remains unsatisfied with the efforts to the repair of the vehicle up to four times, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will exercise exclusive and original jurisdiction over disputes.

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