Senate approves bill establishing ‘Timbangan ng Bayan Centers’ in markets

The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the bill creating Timbangan ng Bayan Centers in all public and private markets, including malls.

Voting 23-0-0, the upper chamber passed Senate Bill 1241 which amends Chapter II, Title III of Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Apart from public, private markets, and malls, the Timbangan ng Bayan Center would also be established inside the supermarkets, wet markets, dry markets, and “when practicable, in flea markets or tiangges, specialty stores, and grocery stores within their respective localities.”

The proposed law requires these centers to have the necessary weighing instruments to confirm the accuracy of the quantity or measurements of products purchased or about to be purchased.

These weighing instruments will be kept and maintained by the market or mall supervisor. They will also be in charge of maintaining a record of every product which was found to be lacking in quantity or substandard in dimension.

The bill will also penalize individuals who fraudulently alter, tamper, vandalize or destroy any scale, balance, Timbangan ng Bayan, weight or measure after it is officially sealed.

SB 1241 likewise amends the penalties stipulated under Article 65 of RA 7394, increasing the fine of P200 to P1,000 to P50,000 to P300,000 and/or imprisonment of one to five years for violators of paragraphs (a), (f), (l), (g), (h), (k) of Article 64 of the same law.

Under the bill, two successive violations of this act shall automatically result in the cancellation of business permit of the erring individual or business establishment.—LDF, GMA News