DTI Orders Retailers & Vendors to Display Price Tag:

To allay public concern on the possibility of higher incidence of profiteering, the Department of Trade and Industry ? National Capital Region (DTI-NCR) is conducting daily inspection of retailer compliance to the Price Tag Law. The regional office has issued notices of violation against non-compliant stall owners situated in several public markets. Based on the initial report, a total of 26 out of 78 stores inspected were found violating the provisions of the Price Tag Law.

As stated in Republic Act 71 and Articles 81 to 83 of the Consumer Act of the Philippines or R.A. No. 7394, ?It shall be unlawful to offer any consumer product for retail sale to the public without an appropriate price tag, label or marking publicly displayed to indicate the price of each article and said products shall not be sold at a price higher than that stated therein and without discrimination to all buyers??

DTI Assistant Secretary Angel L. Pelayo emphasized the significance of the Price Tag and reiterated that ?consumers should not pay any amount higher than the price tag or price list displayed.?

This week, Asec. Pelayo and other DTI-NCR officials also met with Market Administrators and their representatives to discuss current price and supply condition in Metro Manila public markets. The administrators in the following local government units (lGUs) participated in the said meeting: Manila, Pasay, Para?aque, Makati, Pasig, Las Pi?as, Muntinlupa, Pateros, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, San Juan, Marikina, and Valenzuela City.

Assistant Secretary Pelayo, recognizing the importance of the LGUs in safeguarding the interest of the consumers said that: ?DTI believes that through close coordination with our LGU officials, most if not all unscrupulous vendors would be penalized.? According to Department Administrative order No. 6 (DAO No. 6), Series of 2007, administrative fine ranging from P 500.00 to P 150,000.00 will be imposed on violators of the Price Tag Law.

Agreements reached during the assembly include stricter monitoring and enforcement of the Price Tag Law and other related provisions of the Consumer Act including the calibration of weighing scales. Vendors specifically in wet markets that employ the use of dyes and deceptive devices to make their products appear bigger and fresher would be immediately sanctioned. DTI also encourages setting up of Consumer Welfare Desks (CWDs) for consumer complaints and inquiries.

For more information, please call DTI Direct at 751-3330. (end)

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