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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Scams, hoaxes and false advertising have been around since Jacob 
tricked his brother Esau into selling 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 government as well as 
private sector people concerned with preventing Filipinos from all walks of life 
fiom being victimized by unscrupulous manufacturers and merchants. 
Rich or poor, shoppers need consumer protection. And shoppers 
themselves must realize that they face a challet.ge. Dishonest promos, 
substandard products and overpriced merchandises are just some of the 
nightmarish occurrences that could ruin one's shopping spree. 
A reason for the need to enact this law is very basic to the eyes. 
Consumer protection can only be made through the government exercising its 
regulatory powers as such, not only for show of power, but mostly, for the 
exercise of authority. 
Henceforth, the passage of this law is earnestly sought, for the purpose of 
enacting legislation to protect consumers. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
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 fhe Philippines 
jn Congress assembled: 
§ection 1. Title. -This Act shall be known as "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 nation and free the people from poverty through 
policies that provide adequate social 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 political 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 
b.asic consumer right 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 
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Kazardous 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 any are enjoined on ma.iufacturers 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 Representation. - 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 I O .  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 th(! 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 
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 Act, 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; 
5. A representative from the manufacturers sector; 
6. A representative from the sellers sector. 
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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 services to consumers, whether in a manufacturing, 
production, or service concern, shall make available to consumers grievance 
machineries in the soonest possible time wherein violations of the bill of rights of 
consumers may be made known. 
Section 14. Penalties for violation of these bill of rights. - The imposition of 
criminal, civil, and administrative sanctions for the violation of these bill of rights 
shall be imposed on any private individuals, and public officials who shall violate 
the same, to be determined in the implementing rules and regulations provided 
for; Provided, that the penalty for violation of this Act shall not exceed 
Section 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, decrees, rules and 
regulations, and other parts thereof inconsistent with ihe 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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