Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives

Quezon City, Meteo Aanila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7340

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
TO PROTECT FILIPINO CONSUMERS FROM SUBSTANDARD PRODUCTS,
MANDATING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A “TAPAT
NA TIMBANGAN CENTER” IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MARKETS IN
THE COUNTRY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CHAPTER II OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7395, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Quality standards are requirements, specifications, guidelines, or
characteristics that ensure that materials, products, processes and
services are fit for their purpose. They imbibe the producers’ commitment
to upholding the rights of consumers to honest and quality service.

This bill seeks to mandate the establishment of “Tapat na
Timbangan Centers” in all public and private markets, supermarkets,
groceries, stores, and malls. Such Centers shall be publicly accessible
locations where scales and other instruments for determining weights
and measures is available free of charge to any consumer who may want
to verify the accuracy of the weight and measurement of the products
they purchased. The market supervisors shall likewise keep a record of all
products found to be substandard and the establishment where the said
products were bought.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is
earnestly sought.

FRED VARGAS


Republic of the Whilippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Meteo Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7340

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
TO PROTECT FILIPINO CONSUMERS FROM SUBSTANDARD PRODUCTS,
MANDATING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A “TAPAT
NA TIMBANGAN CENTER” IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MARKETS IN
THE COUNTRY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CHAPTER II OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7395, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Tapat na
Timbangan Center Act.”

SECTION 2. Amendatory Provision. ~ It is hereby added a new Article 62-A
in Chapter II of Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the “Consumer
Act of the Philippines”, which shall read as follows:

“ARTICLE 62-A. ESTABLISHMENT OF TAPAT NA TIMBANGAN
CENTERS. - ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUSO SHALL
ESTABLISH A “TAPAT NA TIMBANGAN CENTER”, IN ALL
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MARKETS, SUPERMARKETS, GROCERY
STORES, AND MALLS WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACT, A “TAPAT NA TIMBANGAN
CENTER” SHALL BE A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE LOCATION
WHEREIN INSTRUMENTS FOR DETERMINING LENGTH,
WEIGHT, AND OTHER MEASUREMENTS SHALL BE MADE
AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE TO ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO


WISHES TO VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THE MEASUREMENT
OF THE PRODUCTS WHICH THEY WILL PURCHASE.

THE SAFEKEEPING AND MAINTENANCE OF _ SAID
INSTRUMENTS SHALL BE UNDER THE CONTROL AND
SUPERVISION OF THE MARKET SUPERVISOR WHO SHALL
LIKEWISE KEEP A RECORD OF ALL PRODUCTS FOUND TO BE
WANING IN QUALITY OR SUBSTANDARD IN DIMENSION, THE
ESTABLISHMENT WHERE THE SAME WERE BOUGHT, AND
THE NAME OF THE PROPRIETOR OR MANAGER THEREOF.

A CERTIFICATION DULY ISSUED BY THE MARKET
SUPERVISOR OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
REFLECTING THE CONTENTS OF SUCH RECORD SHALL BE
CONSIDERED PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF VIOLATION OF THE
ACTS PROHIBITED UNDER ARTICLE 64 OF THIS ACT.”

SECTION 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30)
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall
formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act

SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provision of this Act
that is declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of
nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining
portions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances,
rules, regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof, which are
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,