00:00 In malls, bazaars and public markets, we can see various plastic products,
00:05 just like these monoblocks, which may be cheap, but may also pose a threat to our safety.
00:11 This was the scene during the Trade and Industry Department's ceremonial destruction
00:18 of over a thousand forfeited monoblock chairs and stools.
00:22 These items did not meet the quality standards imposed by the government.
00:27 The chair's foot is already damaged, the plastic is already worn out.
00:31 It should not be removed from the use because it is dangerous to the heads.
00:38 The DTI warned retailers to make sure the quality of the products they sell to avoid penalties.
00:44 The cost ranges from P5,000 to P1,000,000 depending on the level of infraction,
00:50 how severe or how costly the violation is.
00:54 Data from the DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau shows that from 2020 to 2023,
01:00 there have been over a thousand charges related to product standards.
01:04 This resulted in the collection of more than P33,000,000 in fines.
01:09 The DTI reminds consumers to be cautious when purchasing products,
01:13 especially those made of plastic that usually do not meet quality standards.
01:18 First, make sure there is a quality mark. Second, if you are a reputable company or retailer,
01:26 you can consult the good reviews to see if the products are of good quality and safe.
01:34 Consumers are urged to check the Philippine Standards Quality or PSMARC,
01:38 or ICCMARC which stands for Import Commodity Clearance to ensure the quality of items in the market.
01:44 It adds products should also have proper labels that may include manufacturing details.
01:50 Also today, a deed of donation was signed as the DTI donates the plastic products to the Manila City government and the plastic flamingo.
01:58 We'll crush it again into smaller pieces and then we'll recycle it into panels
02:03 and that we can use for furniture, construction, formwork, whatever you can do with plywood, you can do with these eco-boards.
02:11 All the products that we are making are sold in the Philippines to big architects, designers,
02:18 and also we donate them to schools or to low-income communities.
02:22 EJ Gomez, CNN Philippines.
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