The Department of Trade and Industry in Central Visayas (DTI-VII) confiscated non-compliant products valued at P1.4 million during separate operations conducted on Sunday.

DTI’s Task Force Kalasag carried out three enforcement operations, resulting in the seizure of 20,815 units of substandard items. These included steel products, lighters, liquefied petroleum gas-related items, electrical lighting and wiring devices, household appliances, construction materials, and automotive-related goods.

"The Department of Trade and Industry, through its Task Force Kalasag, successfully conducted a targeted monitoring and Enforcement operation across various establishments. This intensified operation resulted in the seizure of 20,815 units of Non-compliant steel products and other items, with a total retail value of P1,440,758.50," the agency said in a statement.

The confiscated items lacked required Philippine Standard (PS) marks, Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers, or manufacturer information—violating Republic Act 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines), Republic Act 4109 (Product Standards Law), and Department Administrative Order 02:2007.

DTI-VII Regional Director Maria Elena Arbon told the media that all cases will undergo due process, including prosecution, validation, and, if necessary, the filing of formal charges and adjudication under the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB).

"All will undergo yet due process, through prosecution, and validation, and if ever, filing of formal charges, and then adjudication, all at the FTEB, and that operation is under FTEB as a bureau, hence we have no specific details," she explained.

DTI Secretary Cristina Roque emphasized the department’s commitment to ensuring only high-quality, certified products reach consumers.

"As part of the DTI's mandate to uphold the highest standard of service nationwide, we are fully dedicated to protecting consumers by ensuring that only certified quality products reach the market. At the same time, we ensure that our monitoring and enforcement teams have the expertise and knowledge necessary to deliver first rate service," Roque said.

DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau Director Regino Mallari Jr. also underscored the importance of ensuring that construction and engineering materials in the market are safe and certified.

The E-Kalasag program, launched in April 2024, aims to strengthen consumer protection and fair trade compliance across both digital and physical markets. It has so far monitored 489 retail firms, issued 57 notices of violation, and confiscated P8.3 million worth of non-compliant products, totaling 60,020 seized units.