Following intensified enforcement operations in Pampanga, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) confiscated 186,329 units of uncertified steel products worth ₱21,902,030 million. This crackdown supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure consumer safety and purge the market of substandard construction materials.
The confiscated items, which included equal leg steel angle bars and deformed steel bars, were found without the required Philippine Standard (PS) and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) markings. These certifications serve as essential proof that products have undergone and passed mandatory safety and quality checks. Beyond the missing safety marks, the items also failed to provide basic labeling information, such as the manufacturer’s name and office address.
These enforcement efforts were carried out with support from industry stakeholders, including reports from the private sector. In one operation, authorities seized ₱19.6 million worth of uncertified steel products from a supplier flagged by a retailer. A subsequent operation, triggered by an industry report, resulted in the confiscation of an additional ₱2.3 million in non-compliant products.
Hardware stores found selling these uncertified goods were issued Notices of Violation, with administrative sanctions to follow.
The DTI’s vigilance extended beyond construction materials through joint operations with partner agencies. On March 24, together with the National Bureau of Investigation – Special Action Unit (NBI-SAU), authorities seized around ₱1.1 million worth of uncertified LED lamps and electric fans.
The following day, a collaboration with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) led to the confiscation of approximately ₱25 million in counterfeit goods that failed to meet minimum labeling requirements.
The DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (DTI-FTEB) emphasized that these actions reflect the agency’s sustained commitment to safeguarding consumers and upholding fair business practices nationwide. The agency stated that it will continue relentless, on-the-ground enforcement to remove hazardous products from the market and ensure a level playing field for compliant and responsible businesses. END
