DTI crackdown seizes P1.4 million worth of substandard products

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has seized a total of 20,815 units of non-compliant steel products and other items, with a total value of P1.4 million.

Through its Task Force (TF) Kalasag, DTI recently conducted a targeted monitoring and enforcement operation across various establishments.

TF Kalasag’s operations, which were held early this month, saw the confiscations of various items that included substandard lighters, liquefied petroleum gas-related products, electrical lighting and wiring devices, household appliances, construction materials, and automotive-related materials.

These seized products lacked the required Philippine Standard marks, Import Commodity Clearance stickers, and other manufacturer’s information, violating regulations under Republic Act (RA) No. 7394, as amended by RA 10623 (Consumer Act of the Philippines), RA 4109 (Products Standards Law), and

Department Administrative Order No. 02:2007 (Defining the Responsibilities and Liabilities of the Manufacturers, Importers, Traders).

“As part of the DTI’s mandate to uphold the highest standard of service nationwide, we are fully dedicated to protecting consumers by ensuring that only certified, quality products reach the market. At the same time, we ensure that our monitoring and enforcement teams have the expertise and knowledge necessary to deliver first-rate service,” said DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque.

Strengthening its enforcement move, DTI conducted a two-day retooling session for enforcers on steel products from 4 to 5 March 2025, culminating in a site visit to a steel manufacturing plant in Cebu City.

The event was led by Assistant Secretary Atty. Agaton Teodoro O. Uvero of the Fair Trade Group (FTG) and Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) Director Atty. Regino D. Mallari Jr., in collaboration with the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), DTI Region VII, and various steel industry stakeholders.

“As primary regulators and stakeholders of the steel sector, the safety of consumers and the integrity of the market depend on our knowledge, skills, and diligence. Thus, our activity today rightly focuses on capacitating enforcers and monitors to effectively carry out their responsibilities,” said ASec. Uvero.

In April 2024, the DTI-FTEB launched “E-Kalasag” (Expanded/Electronic Kalasag),

formerly Task Force Kalasag, to bolster consumer protection and ensure fair trade compliance across digital and physical markets.

In the first two months of 2025, E-Kalasag has registered a compliance rate of 88.34 percent for the 489 retail firms monitored. This led to the issuance of 57 notices of violation and the seizure of over P8.3 million worth of non-compliant products, totaling 60,020 confiscated units.

Consumers are urged to report complaints or violations related to retailers selling violative products through the DTI Consumer Care Hotline (1-384) or send an email at consumercare@dti.gov.ph or reporttosec@dti.gov.ph.