Following the enactment of the law establishing Timbangan ng Bayan centers in public and private markets nationwide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go underscored the need to continue strengthening measures to protect consumer rights.

Go commended President Rodrigo Duterte for recently signing Republic Act No. 11706, which amends the Consumer Act of the Philippines, and directs all provincial, city and municipal governments to establish accessible Timbangan ng Bayan centers in all public and private markets, including supermarkets, and when practicable, in flea markets or tiangges and grocery stores, within their respective localities.

The Timbangan ng Bayan centers shall have the necessary instruments for determining weights and measures, which shall be available free of charge to all persons who need to confirm the accuracy of the measurements of products they purchased or are about to purchase.

Lauding the new measure, the senator then stressed that similar efforts must be pursued to ensure that consumers are more aptly shielded from deceptive and unfair sales practices, especially as many Filipinos are still struggling to overcome the adverse effects of the ongoing pandemic.

“Habang unti-unti pong nagbubukas ang ilang sektor ng ating ekonomiya, sana po ay patuloy rin nating palakasin pa ang mga proteksyon para sa kapakanan ng mga Filipino consumers upang mapagaan ang kanilang pinapasan lalo na sa panahong ito,” Go remarked.

“Kailangan po nila ng proteksyon lalo na at hirap ang marami sa ating mga mamimili dahil maraming nawalan ng trabaho o hanapbuhay at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin tuluyang nakakabangon mula sa epekto ng pandemya at iba pang mga sakuna,” he stressed.

RA 11706 puts the market supervisor in charge of the safekeeping and routine maintenance of the Timbangan ng Bayan instruments and maintaining a record of every product found to be deficient in quantity or is substandard in dimension, as well as the establishment where the same was bought.

A certificate duly issued by the market supervisor or his/her authorized representative reflecting the contents of such record will be prima facie evidence of a violation of Article 64 of the law.

Fraudulently altering, tampering, vandalizing or destroying any scale, balance, Timbangan ng Bayan instrument, weight or measure after it is officially sealed are also among the prohibited acts under the law.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Trade and Industry, must, in coordination with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the League of Provinces of the Philippines, the League of Cities of the Philippines, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of RA 11706.

Previously, Go asked private individuals and businesses not to exploit the pandemic for their own financial gains. He had also urged the public to speak up against individuals who are engaged in anomalous practices.

“In times of crisis, every peso counts. We should not allow corruption and abusive business practices to take advantage of the vulnerabilities of fellow Filipinos,” the senator stressed.

“We must continue to build strong and more inclusive consumer protection measures by addressing misinformation and unfair practices as the economy recovers from the effects of COVID-19,” he reiterated.