EDITORIAL - Campaign vs substandard items must be intensified

As early as last month, authorities have already started reminding the public about the dangers of using substandard Christmas lights and other items as Filipinos start to shop for the holiday celebrations.

Recently, the Department of Trade and Industry-7 vowed sanctions on stores selling substandard Christmas lights and other uncertified products, which can only lead to electric shock and overheating, and cause fire.

DTI-7 director Asteria Caberte said they will strictly monitor department stores for substandard Christmas lights and other uncertified products, adding that those caught selling and distributing inferior products will be penalized under Republic Act No. 4109.

Every year, authorities have been warning the public not to buy substandard Christmas items to avoid fire incidents. There have been cases in which inferior Christmas lights triggered deadly conflagrations.

However, there are still those who choose to patronize substandard Christmas decorations since these are cheaper and affordable. This aside from the fact that these unsafe items are easily available.

Of course, for economic reasons, we cannot blame those who continue to buy hazardous Christmas decorations because those top-quality items are far more expensive than those that are available along sidewalks.

Because they sell like hotcakes, the presence of substandard Christmas lights and other items in the market will continue to attract buyers, especially the poor, as long as they stay affordable.

Therefore, the burden should fall on law enforcement units and other concerned government agencies as far as the campaign against substandard Christmas materials is concerned.

The only solution is to conduct an intensified drive against these dangerous Christmas items. Public warnings and advisories will only be effective if accompanied by tough action against those who engage in such business.

The fact that these inferior Christmas items continue to exist along sidewalks and in many stores is a grim testament to authorities’ failure to wage an honest-to-goodness campaign.