"Consumers continue to suffer daily from all kinds and forms of mistreatment. At this difficult time, consumers are entitled to a potent forum that will allow them to bring their complaints directly to Congress, if necessary," says Rep. Herminio Teves.
The solon from Negros Oriental enumerates a litany of consumer gripes, "We’ve had consumers complaining of pricing abuses by oil firms, of unwanted promotional mobile telephone text messages, of excessive bank automated teller machine charges and remittance fees, and of (credit) card lenders imposing unreasonable surcharges. We’ve also had cases of consumers being deceived by pre-need firms that cannot pay the benefit obligations they promised, and of buyers ending up with lemon cars and defective liquefied petroleum (LPG) tanks. We’ve likewise had instances of utilities, mainly electric and water service providers, allegedly arbitrarily raising rates, and of shoppers being levied exorbitant car parking fees."
And the list goes on and on.
Under the Teves proposal, this panel will oversee "exacting compliance" with the Consumer Protection Act and other applicable laws. According to Teves, the panel will also recommend new legislation to further safeguard and advance consumer rights and welfare.
Early on, House officials pushed for the creation of an executive price control and regulatory task force for "socially sensitive products" to cushion the impact of the fare increase recently approved by the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board.
The proposed task force aims to monitor closely and manage the prices of basic necessities such as LPG; rice and corn; bread; fresh, dried, and canned fish; fresh pork, beef, poultry, and eggs; fresh and processed milk; fresh vegetables; coffee; sugar; cooking oil; salt; laundry soap and detergents; firewood and charcoal; candles; and essential drugs.
But how safe are these botanical remedies, some of which promise to be a cure-all for practically every kind of disease we can think of? Surveys say that the most common sources of info re these products are newspapers and magazines, followed by manufacturers and retailers. Fast becoming a popular source is the Internet. But beware: The Internet may be used by some unscrupulous people to disseminate information that is highly misleading. So be circumspect and keep an open mind next time you google the web for any health info.
But then again, according to Food Facts Asia, consumers who are considering taking supplements or are already taking them should take note of the following when seeking the truth about such products:
• Is the information provider regulated or licensed by a national agency such as the Food and Drug Administration or Health Ministry (Department of Health)?
• Does the information provider encourage feedback? Reputable manufacturers/retailers are sensitive to consumer suggestions/complaints.
• Does the information provider provide clear indications of potential risks as well as benefits?
• Does the information include details of quality assurance, for example, actual levels of active ingredients, manufacturing codes of practice such as ISO marks, good manufacturing practice standards, etc.?
If the answer is no to any of the questions above, good sense dictates that you look for additional information.
Also, ever be wary of claims of miracle cures, instant results, and other hypes, which are highly unlikely. Often, these claims are made by manufacturers who are more interested in making a healthy profit than making you healthy.
And keep this in mind: Natural does not always mean safe. Plants contain active ingredients that can be just as potent as substances found in conventional drugs. Thus, botanic supplements/drugs may cause side effects/interactions. Those who are on prescription drugs should tell their doctor if they’re using supplements. Extra care should be taken by pregnant women or breast-feeding women as active ingredients in supplements may not have "natural" effects on the developing fetus or infant and pose a risk to mother and child.
Finally, to answer the question "Is this the right supplement for me?" Food Facts Asia tells us to ask ourselves these questions:
1) Is this suitable for my individual characteristics – is it recommended for my gender, age, medical conditions, and health status?
2) Any side effects to look out for?
3) What are the dosage recommendations? How much and for how long?
4) Any advice on appropriate precautions, contraindications?
5) What are the potential benefits?