BALANGA CITY — Government agencies, local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders pledged to unite in protecting consumers from trade malpractice and substandard or hazardous products.
During a Consumer Protection Advocacy Forum held in Balanga City, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Regional Supervisor Virginia Timbol urged partner agencies and stakeholders to promote consumer rights.
“Our mandate is to protect the public against substandard or hazardous products through monitoring and surveillance of establishments in the country,” she said.
Timbol stressed that government agencies and stakeholders should work together in the apprehension of violators who spread counterfeit health products in the country. Among government agencies committed to the advocacy were the Department of Health, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Department of Labor and Employment. Other agencies that showed support were the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and Industry, National Nutrition Council, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine Information Agency, and Philippine National Police.
The Provincial Government of Bataan and its 12 city and municipal LGUs also supported the advocacy by partnering with concerned government agencies.
Topics discussed during the forum were mandates of FDA, field regulatory operations, FDA Enforcement Program, and the Republic Act 8203 or the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs.
Timbol also urged the public to report unregistered or counterfeit products by filing an official complaint through their website at fda.gov.ph or sending a report to [email protected].
