DTI, other gov’t agencies work to rid market of fake auto parts

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is closely coordinating with other government agencies in ridding the market of fake and substandard auto parts to ensure the safety of motorists and to prevent incidents similar to the Byron Bus Lines Benguet tragedy from happening.

According to Trade and Industry Secretary Juan B. Santos, the DTI is adopting a twin approach to solve the problem.

The first approach is product standards monitoring and the second is enforcement of Intellectual Property (IP).

Santos said the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP), Bureau of Product Standards (BPS), and the Bureau of Import Services (BIS) are working closely with other government agencies such as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Bureau of Customs (BoC) in ensuring road safety.

Santos ordered the BPS to intensify monitoring and strictly enforce the products standards law concerning auto parts that are being sold in the market.

In cases where BPS has no mandatory standards, Santos has directed the speedy development of Philippine Standards on critical car parts, especially those related to items that are vital to road-safety.

"The DTI will speed up the development of more automotive parts standards that will be adopted by the industry to ensure that products and components being used by cars, trucks and other motor vehicle manufacturers that are at par with the accepted safety standards in the international market," Santos said.

BPS Director Jesus L. Motoomull said that the DTI has declared a mandatory product certification for six automotive component parts that include tires, brake-fluids, batteries, automotive glasses, seat belts and rubber inner tubes.

Proper testing of these parts to the safety requirements of the Philippine National Standards (PNS) will protect consumers.

To expedite the standards development process, the DTI, in cooperation with DOTC-LTO will conduct the auto standardization forum that will be attended by the private sector particularly the auto parts companies and manufacturers of cars, trucks and motorcycles in the country to develop an action plan to respond to the proliferation of substandard auto parts.

"The meeting will be a proper venue for the private and government sectors to set the quality and internationally-accepted standards in the manufacturing, distribution and monitoring of the use of auto parts in the country," Motoomull said.

Santos also instructed the BIS to work closely with BoC to monitor and clamp down on the influx of fake auto spare parts even before it finds its way in the Philippine market.

At present, the importation of automotive spare parts, both brand new and used, are already liberalized. They are therefore freely importable and are brought into the country after payment of the corresponding taxes and duties.

A committee composed of DTI, BOC, and motor vehicle manufacturers and suppliers of parts will meet shortly to identify sources of fake auto parts. "The listed importer of these products maybe blacklisted, not precluding other legal actions and administrative sanctions that maybe imposed against the violator," BIS Director Luis M. Catibayan said.

"Running after substandard and fake motor vehicle spare parts is a concern which must be addressed by the government, the private sector and the buying public. These products pose a hazard to the streets in the metropolis and by eliminating these products from the market we make our streets a safer roadway for conveyance," Santos said.