CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-10 warned consumers against the use of substandard and counterfeit electrical materials despite its growing presence in the market due to its risks towards public safety.
Engr. Reginald Villaruel of the Philippine Electric Wires Manufacturers Association (PEWMA) said the use of substandard wires and cables endangers the general public. He added that these counterfeit wires use aluminum and steel wiring that break easily, which puts consumers at higher risk of fire.
Consumers can determine the quality of their electrical wires and cables by inspecting the product packaging, Villaruel said. Legitimate products indicate the type and size of the wire, rated voltage, and the manufacturer’s name or trade name on the product packaging. Local and international products compliant with Philippine National Standards (PNS) also have a Philippine Standard (PS) Quality Mark and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Sticker on their product packaging.
Weighing the product also determines the authenticity of the product. Villaruel said substandard or fake wires weigh less than the standard copper wires due to ‘undersizing’ where the diameter of each strand is lesser than the prescribed standard, or possibly because they are copper-clad aluminum and/or steel strands.
Amid the increase in fake and substandard electrical wires on the market, Villaruel said they actively participate in disseminating important information about electrical wires and cables to manufacturers and consumers.
“Meron pa rin po’ng mangilan-ngilan na namemeke ng mga wires and cable, kaya po kami we actively participate [in] these kinds of events (the virtual information campaign), especially in partnership with DTI, para po tayong mga consumer is alam natin kung ano ang mga produktong binibili at ibinibenta sa market,” Villaruel said.
(There are still those who sell fake wires and cables, which is why we actively participate in these kinds of events, especially in partnership with DTI, so that we as consumers know what products to purchase and are for sale in the market)
Villaruel said those who allow the sale of fake and substandard products, especially those without the PS or ICC marks, will be penalized and such products will be confiscated and destroyed as part of their organization’s monitoring and enforcement initiatives. (GDA/PIA-10)
Photo release:
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-10 warns consumers against the use of substandard and counterfeit electrical materials despite its growing presence in the market due to its risks towards public safety via online information campaign, April 19. (PIA-10)
