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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Scams, hoaxes and false advertising have been around since Jacob 
tricked his brother Esau into sellihg him his birthright (Gen. 25: 29-34). So how 
do buyers ever trust sellers - and how do sellers gain that trust? Who sets the 
standards, and who enforces them? Over time, consumers, businesses and the 
government have developed ways of protecting themselves and maintaining 
standards in business and advertising. Henceforth, the need for the enactment of 
an all-encompassing bill of rights for consumers is necessitated by the times. 
Protecting consumers is a task that challenges the government as well as 
the private sector since victims of unscrupulous manufacturers and merchants 
transcend classes, as Filipinos from all walks of life are affected. 
Rich or poor, shoppers need consumer protection. Shoppers themselves 
must realize that they face a challenge. Dishonest promotions, substandard 
products and overpriced merchandises are just some of the nightmarish 
occurrences that could ruin one's. shopping spree. 
Clearly, a reason for the need to enact this law is extant. Consumer 
protection, however, can only be made through the government exercising its 
regUlatory powers. 
Henceforth, the passage of this law is earnestly sought, for the purpose of 
enacting a legislation that will better protect the consumers. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THIi: 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
AN ACT 
ORDAINING A BILL OF RIGHTS FOR THE FILIPINO CONSUMERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Title. -This Act shall be known as the 'The Consumer's Bill of 
Rights." 
Section 2. Declaration of PrinCiples. - It is hereby declared the policy of 
the State: 
To promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity 
and independence of the natiolJ and free the people from poverty through 
policies that provide adequate so.cial services, promote full employment, a rising 
standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all. 
For the Congress to give the highest priority to the enactment of measures 
that protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity, reduce 
social, economic, and political inequities, and remove cultural inequalities by 
equitably diffusing wealth and poUtical power for the common good. 
To better protect and enhance the rights of consumers. 
Section 3. Consumer's Basic Rights. -
The following are the basic 
rights of the consumers in the Philippines: 
1. The Right to basic needs; 
2. The Right to safety; 
3. The Right to information; 
4. The Right to choose; 
5. The Right to representation; 
6. The Right to redress; 
7. The Right to consumer education; 
8. The Right to a healthy environment. 
Section 4. The Right to Basic Needs. - The right to basic needs shall 
mean the basic consumer right which prompts the government to ensure the 
availability to consumers of basic and prime commodities at affordable prices and 
of good quality. 


Section 5. The Right to Safety. - The right to safety shall mean the right 
of consumers to be protected from the marketing of goods or services that are 
hazardous to health and life. The undertaking of extensive safety and 
performance testing of products before being sold, and the placing of labels and 
proper product information about the product's use and operation, and warnings 
about precautions to be taken, if a,ny, are enjoined on manufacturers and sellers. 
Section 6. The Right to Information. - The right to information requires 
manufacturers and sellers to provide complete information about a product being 
sold including, but not limited to, its use, ingredients or chemical contents, 
precautions, limitations, and manufacturing and expiry dates. 
Section 7. The Right to Choose. - The right to choose shall mean the 
right to choose products with competitive prices with an assurance of satisfactory 
quality. 
Section 8. The Right to R-epresentation. - The right to representation 
shall mean the right of consumers to express their interests in the making and 
execution of government policies. 
Section 9. The Right to Redress. - The right to redress shall mean the 
right of consumers to be compensated for misrepresentation, substandard 
goods, or unsatisfactory services, 
Section 10. The Right to 'Consumer Education. - The right to consumer 
education shall mean the right of the consumer to acquire the knowledge and 
skills necessary to become an informed customer. 
Section 11. The Right to a Healthy Environment. - The right to a 
healthy environment shall mean the right to live and work in an environment that 
is neither threatening nor dangerous and permits a life of dignified well-being. 
Section 12. Duties of the Department of Trade and Industry. - The 
Department of Trade and Industry shall be tasked with the implementation, 
enforcement and dissemination of information as to this Act accordingly; 
Provided, that criminal, civil and :administrative liabilities shall be imposed upon 
failure to abide by the provisions of this Act; Provided, that the Department of 
Trade and Industry and its branch offices in the provinces, cities and 
municipalities shall have jurisdiction over grievances of consumers over the 
provisions of this Act; Provided, 'further, that in the absence of branch offices in 
the provinces, cities and municipalities, the local government units shall establish 
such centers whereby grievances of consumers may be brought forth, and which 
grievances shall be made known to the Department of Trade and Industry for 
proper action. 
Section 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) 
days after the effectivity of this A.ct, the following shall convene for the purpose of 
formulating implementing rules and regulations for this Act, to convene everyday 
for the purpose of formulating the said rules until such time that the implementing 
rules and regulations have been formulated; Provided, that the failure to produce 
implementing rules and regulation within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this 
Act, shall not hinder the implementation of this Act. 
1. A representative from the Executive Department; 
2. A representative from the Legislative Department; 
3. The Secretary of Trade and Industry; 
4. A representative from the consumers sector; 
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5. A representative from the manufacturers sector; 
6. A representative from the sellers sector. 
The implementing rules and regulations shall focus on the better implementation 
of the bill of rights for the consumers, and shall create a grievance by which 
establishments offering products or services or both to consumers, whether in a 
manufacturing, production, or service concern, shall make available to 
consumers grievance machineries at the soonest possible time wherein 
violations of the bill of rights of consumers may be made known. 
Section 14. Penalties for the violation of the bill of rights. - Any 
person who is found to have violated the Consumer's bill of rights shall be 
punished with imprisonment of nqt less than six (6) months nor more than two (2) 
years, or a fine of not less than ten thousand pesos (Php 10,000.00) but not 
more than fifty thousand pesos (Php 50,000.00) or both such imprisonment and 
fine, at the discretion of the court. 
Section 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, decrees, rules and 
regulations, and other parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
Section 16. Effectivity. -,This Act shall take effect fifteen days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation. 
Approved, 
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