By Leilanie Adriano
LAOAG CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Ilocos Norte on Friday destroyed several substandard and uncertified products as part of its efforts to ensure consumer safety and protection.
Among the products destroyed during a ceremonial activity in front of the Provincial Engineering Office in this city were unbranded steel wires, Christmas lights, lighters and inner tubes that did not have government certification.
“The products destroyed were uncertified — meaning they did not undergo the proper process of certification,” DTI provincial director Amelia Galvez said in a media interview.
The destroyed items were collected from 2023 to 2025 with an estimated value of more than PHP120,000.
Through the destruction, Galvez said the DTI “is expressing its commitment to protect consumers and showing that it is serious in the fight against substandard products that are being sold [in the market].”
The ceremonial activity was part of the 2025 Consumer Welfare Month celebration and was witnessed by Laoag City officials and a representative from the Commission on Audit.
It was also part of the DTI Fair Trade Group’s sustained enforcement campaign, which includes unannounced factory audits of steel bar manufacturers and expanded inspections of hardware stores and retail outlets across the country.
The department reminded consumers to stay vigilant when buying materials and other regulated goods, warning that uncertified items may look identical to compliant ones but fail to meet safety and performance requirements.
In addition, the DTI emphasized its commitment to responsible disposal through sustainable waste management practices, which it said aligns consumer protection with environmental responsibility. (PNA)
