The Special Monitoring Assistance to the Regional Operations Group Team (SMART), under DTI’s Bureau of Products Standards (DTI-BPS), recently seized nine boxes of uncertified ONPRO electric wires from a hardware store in Cavite.
The establishment – Paraiso Builders, located along Aguinaldo Hi-way, Silang, Cavite – was found selling packages of ONPRO electric wires that do not have the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC), a requirement under the BPS’ Product Certification Scheme.
DTI-BPS director Jesus L. Motoomull explained that ONPRO electric wires did not undergo proper testing based on requirements in the Philippine National Standard (PNS) for electrical wires and cables.
"Consumers are not guaranteed that the product they are buying is of good quality and safe to use," Motoomul said.
Paraiso Builders is now, reportedly, facing administrative charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 4109 or the Standards Law, and has been issued a notice of mediation set for March 10, 2005.
Last December, the SMART team confiscated boxes of ONPRO wire nails from a dealer of construction materials in Guiguinto, Bulacan as these were also declared uncertified by the DTI.
The confiscated wire nails did not conform to the prescribed dimension and weight of wire nails specified in the relevant PNS. Substandard wire nails can pose a threat to persons living or staying within a building.
The DTI-BPS is still investigating whether the importer of the ONPRO wire nails is responsible for shipping into the country the same brand of electric wires that the SMART team sequestered recently.
Motoomull stressed the danger in using uncertified electric wires.
"All structures, be it a small residence or high-rise building, use electric wires and cables for their wiring systems. These are used to transmit and distribute electric power from the source to the consuming public," Motoomull said.
Thus, Motoomull explained, "substandard electric wires that have poor insulation and conductivity can endanger the lives of people inhabiting a house or occupying a building. These often lead to physical injury such as electric shock or electrocution. Faulty wiring can also cause fire."
To ensure consumer safety and prevent property damage, the DTI-BPS requires all manufacturers and importers of electric wires and cables to have their products tested at the BPS Testing Center or at any BPS accredited or recognized laboratory prior to distribution or sale.
Only products that pass the relevant safety and quality requirements are issued with a Philippine Standard (PS) License and ICC for locally-made and imported products, respectively.
Motoomull urged buyers of defective products to file a complaint or report to the DTI any illegal activities of traders so that they may be penalized appropriately."
The DTI may be reached through its consumer hotline number 8977-384, e-mail address <cwd-btrcp@dti.dti.gov.ph>, i-reklamo website <www.i-reklamo.ph>, or by visiting their office at 361 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City.