The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) urges business owners and establishments to disclose their prices in compliance with the Fair Trade Laws.
“We are firm in enforcing these laws, especially on the requirement of price tags, to ensure consumers’ right to choose quality products at reasonable prices,” said Trade undersecretary for Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Ruth Castelo.
The CPG urged store owners, including online sellers, to comply with Article 81 of Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines which requires appropriate tags, labels, or markings that indicate the prices of retail products.
Under this law, selling a basic necessity or prime commodity without a price tag is prima facie evidence of profiteering.
The law also mandated that products must not be sold at prices higher than what is stated.
To strengthen the implementation of the Price Act and Consumer Act, the DTI, the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) recently issued Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 22-01, consolidating all existing rules and guidelines on online businesses.
The DTI recently launched an online campaign against the “PM Sent (Private Message) culture.” The “PM Sent culture” was deemed a shady practice of online sellers who send private messages to consumers inquiring on the price of a product.
The campaign apprises online vendors who conceal prices as a marketing strategy that the practice is punishable by fines and/or imprisonment in accordance with law.
The fines range from P200 to P5,000, while imprisonment is from one month to six months.