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Official Publication of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol Regional Office, in cooperation with the RIAC-REDIRAS - RDC Bicol



Tuesday, November 10, 2015

DTI steps up drive vs Bicol shops selling cheap but hazardous Christmas lights

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 10 (PIA)--Ten stores in Albay province were found selling Christmas lights without the required clearance from the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Rodrigo Aguilar, director of DTI for Albay, said he led the enforcement activity following reports of rampant selling of Christmas lights that had no BPS mark stickers or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) certificate stickers.

Aguilar said absence of BPS mark stickers or ICC certificate stickers in Christmas lights was proof that the brands failed to pass safety standards of DTI.

Aside from uncertified brands, Aguilar said some of the Christmas lights sold in those stores had fake ICC certificate stickers.

Aguilar said his enforcement team made an inventory of the uncertified lights and sealed the same in order to prevent the unscrupulous store owners from selling them.

Rolls of fake ICC stickers were likewise confiscated.

According to DTI Regional Director Jocelyn Blanco, while these lights may be cheaper, they have a higher risk of failing by burning up or causing electrical shock when handled improperly.

Blanco reiterated the DTI’s warning to the public to buy only Christmas lights with genuine ICC stickers to ensure that these passed safety tests.

Echoing a DTI advisory released earlier, Blanco said “consumers should be extra cautious if products are sold cheap.”

The Christmas lights with fake or without ICC stickers were sold at prices ranging from P60 up to P80.

Prices of Christmas lights with genuine ICC stickers range from P300 to P500.

Trade malpractices may be reported to the DTI at 4805720 local 109 or at 3F Capitol Annex Bldg., Legazpi City.(EAD/SAA/DTI5/PIA5/Albay)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2571447059602/dti-steps-up-drive-vs-bicol-shops-selling-cheap-but-hazardous-christmas-lights#sthash.Vlq9kw3p.dpuf

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