Establishment of Timbangan ng Bayan Centers in Public and Private Markets, Amending Republic Act No. 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines)

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 11706

Establishment of Timbangan ng Bayan Centers (Section 1, Article 62-A):
- Provincial, city and municipal governments shall establish Timbangan ng Bayan Centers in all public and private markets, supermarkets, and when practicable, in flea markets/tiangges and grocery stores.
- These centers must have instruments for determining weights and measures, available free of charge to confirm accuracy of purchased or to-be-purchased products.
- The market supervisor shall be in charge of safekeeping, maintenance of instruments, and maintaining records of deficient/substandard products and establishments.

Coverage of Markets (Section 1, Article 62-B):
- Flea market/tiangge: a temporary market where goods, merchandise, or food products are sold.
- Grocery store: a retail shop primarily selling food and household items in a specific community.
- Supermarket: a market larger than a grocery store where shoppers serve themselves and pay at the exit.

Assistance to Local Governments (Section 1, Article 62-C):
- The Department of Trade and Industry shall provide assistance in establishing Timbangan ng Bayan Centers nationwide, prioritizing 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-income class provinces, cities, and municipalities.

Prohibited Acts (Section 1, Article 64):
- Fraudulently altering, tampering, vandalizing, or destroying any scale, balance, Timbangan ng Bayan instrument, weight or measure after official sealing.

Penalties (Section 1, Article 65):
- Violation of prohibited acts: fine of ₱50,000 to ₱300,000 or imprisonment of 1 to 5 years, or both.
- Two successive violations shall result in automatic cancellation of the business permit.

Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 2):
- The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Trade and Industry shall promulgate rules and regulations within 90 days from the law's effectivity, in coordination with relevant agencies and stakeholders.

Appropriations (Section 3):
- The necessary amount shall be charged against the national tax allotment and other funds of the concerned local government unit.

Separability Clause (Section 4):
- If any provision is declared unconstitutional or invalid, it shall not affect other provisions.

Repealing Clause (Section 5):
- All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed or modified accordingly.

Effectivity (Section 6):
- This Act shall take effect 15 days following its publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.