More consumers in Central Luzon filed their complaints before the offices of the Department of Trade and Industry, mostly on gadgets and appliances. In the first half of 2017, the DTI regional and provincial offices in Region 3 have received a total of 316 consumer complaints as compared to only 286 in the same period last year.
While the number of cellphone related complaints decreased, 56 in 2017 as compared to those in 2016 (60), cellphone concerns still remained as the most frequent subject of consumer complaints, followed by refrigerators (24), television (4), motorcycle (22), vehicle (17) and aircon (11).
Of the 316 complaints received, 301 or 95% have been resolved through mediation between the complaining and the complained parties, while 12 complaints have to go through adjudication.
As of June 30, 2017, Bulacan consumers had the most number of complaints filed with 76, followed by Zambales with 75, Bataan with 50, Tarlac with 39, Nueva Ecija with 29, DTI-3 Regional Office with 25, Pampanga with 21and Aurora with only 1 complaint received.
According to the Consumer Protection Division of DTI-3, it has filed 14 motupropio formal charges against sellers who allegedly violated fair trade laws./WT Serrano (DTI)