Consumers must be vigilant and react

Our column last week about local G.I. (galvanized iron) sheets being thinner than what the government standards dictate elicited some intriguing and revealing reactions from some of our readers.

For those who may have missed our article here last week (Are G.I. sheets getting thinner?) we made mention of what we gathered from someone in the industry that the G.I. sheets that are being rolled out of some local mills do not meet the government standard of thickness at 0.40 mm but instead are indeed a lot thinner. This is of course to the possible detriment of the safety of those who buy these for their shelters and other vital needs. Not to mention that they are not getting the right value for their money.

We also mentioned that there was a further claim that the government, instead of insisting on implementing the set standards, just gave in to what was prevalently available in the market and adjusted the standard to meet what’s being churned out of the mills.

When I referred the issue to the DTI, Department of Trade and Industry, Secretary Cesar Purisima immediately responded with a letter stating that according to the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) the required minimum thickness for G.I. sheets used for roofing still stands at 0.40 mm. The very accommodating newly appointed Cabinet member also enjoined the public to report any infringement to government set standards.

Well, interestingly a reader, Mr. Bernardo Villegas wrote in to share with us an intriguing experience regarding what is in the market that may not conform to set standards.

"About a decade ago, I went to buy wood for a screen door. I computed for the amount of wood material including the sizes. When the store came up with my order, they were all smaller in dimensions. My disagreement was met with the storeowner’s assurance that a 1x1 t&g is now 3/4 x 1/2. How could this pass the standards? I am not surprised by your article about G.I. sheets. Just disgusted. Such cheats!"

In a different vein, another reader, Mr. Tommy Canto wrote in to express his concern about what he perceives as the DTI’s failure to check on some unwarranted increase of prices of some products.

"It is always a pleasure reading about vigilant people like yourself looking out for the interests of the unaware consumer. May I also point your attention to the prices of deformed steel bars, which have risen 150 percent in the past two months despite a glut and low prices on the world market. I have been wondering why the DTI and Secretary Cesar Purisima have failed to notice the rapid and unwarranted increase in the prices of steel bars while they have paid great attention to the price of cement. Thank you very much for all the help you can give the Filipinos and the country."

I have always subscribed to the old adage, which says, "There will be no masters if there were no slaves." And as long as we allow these unscrupulous masters rule our lives we will always remain as meek exploited slaves as we are.

I don’t think that we should just leave it to the hands of the government to police and put into order our lives. We can always help, especially in times when we see a government that may not be fully capable but also not very willing to make things work as they should. We can encourage the government to make things work by showing them that we care if things don’t turn out the way they should. Show indifference and we reap inaction.

It’s Not As Bad It Looks?

We had quite an enlightening on-camera conversation with Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Lilia de Lima on our weekly TV show Breaking Barriers (IBC TV-13, Wednesday, 11 p.m.), where we spotlight movers from government, business and society and people who are in the news or are in the middle of controversies to gain deeper insights regarding the country’s present state-of-affairs and current issues.

The chat was revealing as we realized that despite negative reports about our economy’s current health, quite a number of products of high technology and unimaginable proportions are actually being made here in the country inside our economic zones. Like did you know that the "brains" of the Nokia phones available all over the world are being made here? Are you also aware that sea going vessels as gigantic as the Titanic are being rolled out from our eco-zones every 43 days?

There are still a lot to learn about what’s going on in our economic zones and these we’ll share with you this coming Wednesday as we have a "two and one’ (I co-host the show with my brother Rey) with PEZA top honcho, Undersecretary Lilia de Lima.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

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