DTI to institute product recall system

Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II said yesterday that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is instituting a product recall system to ensure consumer safety and high quality of products.

Roxas said DTI agencies such as the Board of Investments, Bureau of Product Standards, and others would meet with manufacturers and tap third or independent parties to ensure compliance with product standards.

Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines said it has traced 19 of the 27 completely built-up vehicles imported from Japan that are among the units subject to global product recall by the company’s Japanese parent.

Roxas had ordered the local Mitsubishi and Honda Motor companies to honor the global product recall of defective units belonging to production years 1992-1995.

Makoto Maeda, Mitsubishi president, said owners of 18 Galants and one Pajero have been notified or contacted to avail of the company’s technical assistance. An owner of one the Galant models, however, reported that his car had been carnapped. Five Lancers remain the subject of a nationwide search.

To identify the 27 imported CBU vehicles, the Japanese parent listed specific serial numbers.

"From our initial reports, we have acted by way of tracing said (27) vehicles through all possible means and have formally contacted even embassies to verify whether they are part of their fleet of imported vehicles," he wrote Roxas.

"Likewise we have fielded engineers nationwide to assist our dealership network not only in records tracing but also to extend technical assistance."

Maeda said that he personally assures the public that "our company is going its best to immediately resolve the matter and that we continue to support DTI’s effort to help the public."