City to intensify operation vs defective weighing scales

CEBU, Philippines — Despite its massive “Operation Timbangan” last year, the Office of the City Markets of the Cebu City government has confiscated over 40 defective weighing scales in the last three months this year.

Market administrator Robert Barquilla told The Freeman that so far, they caught 42 weighing scales around the Carbon Market complex alone this year.

Barquilla said they were not able to catch a lot of vendors with defective weighing scales in the first two months of 2024, but only this month.

Last year, the OCM was able to penalize 223 vendors in total for using faulty or defective weighing scales.

After taking note that vendors have not learned from it, Barquilla is looking into re-intensifying its Operation Timbangan.

Aside from the Carbon market, the OCM will also be going around the other public markets in the city to ensure that consumers are protected and are paying for the products based on their correct weight.

Earlier, the OCM had already urged market-goers to verify the weight of the items they bought at a “Timbangan ng Bayan” located in any market.

The Department of Trade and Industry has placed its own independent weighing scales in all markets to ensure that market-goers can recheck what they bought.

Aside from that, market-goers are encouraged to approach OCM’s complaints desk if they have some concerns.

Meanwhile, Barquilla eyes destroying the defective weighing scales that can no longer be recalibrated and repaired next month.

Barquilla assured that all of the confiscated weighing scales have been all accounted for and locked in their storage area for safe keeping while still finalizing the schedule to destroy it. (CEBU NEWS)