.<■ >>X
^Eiuiir
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
o( tl)f ff I'l I ft.117
*22 OCT-5 P5 53
SE
S.B. No.^9
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
GRANTING BROADER AUTHORITY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE 
AND INDUSTRY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS MANDATE TO COMBAT 
DECEPTIVE, UNFAIR AND UNCONSCIONABLE SALES ACTS OR PRACTICES, 
THEREBY AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7394 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE "CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XVI, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution states that, "The State shall 
protect consumers from trade malpractices and from substandard or hazardous 
products." Further, Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7394 otherwise known as the, "Consumer 
Act of the Philippines" provides that, "The State shall promote and encourage fair, 
honest and equitable relations among parties in consumer transactions and protect the 
consumer against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts or practices.'
The Consumer Protection Group (CPG) under the Department of Trade and 
Industry (DTI) is mandated to enforce laws for the protection of consumers, provide 
consumer education, and form consumer groups. Yet, a number of sellers or retailers 
persist in selling unconscionably overpriced products.
In the aftermath of Typhoon Odette early this year, consumers have reported 
incidents of overpricing of basic commodities, particularly food and fuel. Retailers of 
fuel in the provinces were reported to have sold gasoline at Php 90 to Php 100 per liter 
despite the Department of Energy directive to keep gas prices within the range of Php 
60 to Php 83 per liter. Retail prices of pork also reached more than Php 400 per kilogram 
despite the decrease of gate prices for hogs from Php 230 to Php 200 per kilo in July 
2022.
Another cause for concern is the sky-high prices of basic commodities such as 
noodles, canned goods, and coffee being sold at convenience stores. The convenience 
store industry has grown exponentially in the Philippines. 7-Eleven, Ministop, Family 
Mart, and Lawson outlets have mushroomed everywhere across the nation, particularly


in urban c6ntGrs and CGntral businGss districts of Manila and thG provinces. With time 
being a precious commodity, most Filipinos resort to buying from these establishments 
due to the demand for convenience and accessibility. Business process outsourcing 
(BPO) workers, students, working mothers, condominium residents, and other on-the- 
go individuals are almost dependent on these stores for their ready-to-eat meals, 
beverages, and other food and non-food products. R.A. No. 7394 deems any sales act 
or practice "unfair or unconscionable" when the seller, "taking advantage of the 
consumer's lack of time or the general conditions of the environment or surroundings, 
induces the consumer to enter into a sales or lease transaction grossly inimical to the 
interests of the consumer or grossly one-sided in favor of seller." Given how Filipinos, 
particularly those on a budget or whose jobs require them to be on-the-go, have 
succumbed to the lure of convenience stores, the DTI, as implementor of the Consumer 
Act provisions on Deceptive, Unfair and Unconscionable Sales Acts or Practices, needs 
to tighten its monitoring of these establishments to ensure their compliance with R.A. 
No. 7394.
Thus, this bill seeks to broaden the authority of the DTI in enforcing Chapter I, 
Title III of R.A. No. 7394 on Deceptive, Unfair and Unconscionable Sales Acts or 
Practices, to provide wider protection to consumers and deter the act of profiteering.
IMEE R. MARCO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1369
Of tl)f gxc fMi v
*22 OCT-5 P5 S3
RECEIVED Bi’.
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
GRANTING BROADER AUTHORITY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE 
AND INDUSTRY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS MANDATE TO COMBAT 
DECEPTIVE, UNFAIR AND UNCONSCIONABLE SALES ACTS OR PRACTICES, 
THEREBY AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7394 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:
1 
SECTION 1. A new Article 49-A is hereby inserted after Article 49 of Republic
2 
Act No. 7394 to read as follows:
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
"ARTICLE 49-A. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE 
IMPLEMENTING AGENCY. -THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND 
INDUSTRY (DTI) SHALL EXERCISE SUCH POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS, AS MAY BE NECESSARY, TO IMPLEMENT AND 
ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT, INCLUDING THE 
POWER TO:
(A) RECEIVE AND INVESTIGATE ANY CONSUMER COMPLAINT 
AND INITIATE ITS OWN INVESTIGATION OF DECEPTIVE, 
UNFAIR AND UNCONSCIONABLE SALES ACTS OR PRACTICES, 
PARTICULARLY IN ESTABLISHMENTS THAT SELL BASIC 
NECESSITIES AND PRIME COMMODITIES SUCH AS 
CONVENIENCE STORES, PUBLIC MARKETS, AND 
SUPERMARKETS/GROCERY STORES;
(B) REPORT TO APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS OR AGENCIES 
ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THE VIOLATION OF ANY


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
LAW PROTECTING CONSUMERS FROM DECEPTIVE, UNFAIR 
AND UNCONSIONABLE SALES ACTS OR PRACTICES;
(C) 
PROVIDE MONITORING TEAMS AND CONDUCT 
INSPECTIONS, IN A REASONABLE MANNER, OF PRODUCERS, 
MANUFACTURERS, SUPPLIERS, OR SELLERS' PREMISES, 
PARTICULARLY THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS WHICH PRODUCE, 
MANUFACTURE, SUPPLY, OR SELL BASIC NECESSITIES AND 
PRIME COMMODITIES SUCH AS CONVENIENCE STORES,
PUBLIC MARKETS, AND SUPERMARKETS OR GROCERY STORES 
TO EVALUATE SALES ACTS, TECHNIQUES, OR PRACTICES 
EMPLOYED THEREIN IN ORDER TO:
(i) IDENTIFY AND INVESTIGATE ANY VIOLATIONS OF 
THIS ACT;
(ii) DETERMINE TRENDS IN SALES ACTS, TECHNIQUES 
OR PRACTICES; AND
(iii) DEVELOP STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR FAIR, 
HONEST, AND EQUITABLE SALES ACTS, TECHNIQUES OR 
PRACTICES;
(D) 
REQUIRE THE PRODUCTION AND SUBMISSION OF 
RECORDS, DOCUMENTS, BOOKS, AND SUCH OTHER 
INFORMATION AND PAPERS, AS MAY BE NECESSARY, TO 
ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF 
THIS ACT;
(E) CALL THE ATTENTION OF PRODUCERS, MANUFACTURERS, 
SUPPLIERS, OR SELLERS TO REVIEW THEIR PRICES, AS WELL 
AS, SALES ACTS, TECHNIQUES, OR PRACTICES WHEN 
PREVAILING ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, POLITICAL, OR 
GENERAL SURROUNDING CONDITIONS WARRANT THE SAME;
AND
(F) PUBLISH ANNUALLY THE MONITORING AND INSPECTION 
REPORTS IN THE WEBSITE OF DTI FOR THE INFORMATION 
AND GUIDANCE OF THE PUBLIC."
SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect.
SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of 
general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,