Confiscated substandard merchandise destroyed in GenSan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Personnel of the trade department destroyed on Wednesday a ton of seized substandard electrical supplies and other cheap appliances unsafe for public use.In a statement Thursday, the Department of Trade and Industry in Region 12 said the merchandise, recovered in recent operations in General Santos City and nearby areas, were disposed in a landfill in Sinawal area here.The operation was witnessed by representatives from various agencies and local consumer rights welfare blocs, initiated in the presence of officials of the Commission on Audit.The disposal of the substandard goods, comprised of electrical switches, tubular and circular fluorescent bulbs, unbranded power extension cords, electric fans, ceiling fans, flat irons, television sets, and rice cookers, was supervised by government waste management experts.The law-enforcement activities of DTI-12 in the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat and in the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong and Kidapawan are supported by local government units and the Police Regional Office-12.DTI-12 officials placed at almost P300,000 the value of the products they segregated separately according to waste disposal procedures and crushed using a road roller.The DTI-12 office said it will intensify in the coming months its campaign against violators of national laws meant to smuggling and ensure safety and welfare of consumers in provinces under its jurisdiction.