QC HALL TEAM RAIDS MARKET STALLS WITH UNCALIBRATED WEIGHING SCALES

Some 51 unsealed and uncalibrated weighing scales were confiscated Thursday morning by an enforcement team from the calibration and weights section of the Quezon City treasurer’s office at Lagro and Es-Em markets along Zabarte Road as part of the city government’s continuing effort to protect consumers from unscrupulous traders and businessmen, especially during the holiday season.

Come the first week of December, city treasurer Edgar Villanueva warned that the operation will be conducted on a daily basis to ensure the protection of QC residents against any form of business malpractice.

“Kung ngayon tuwing Huwebes lang tayo nanghuhuli, sa unang araw po ng Disyembre magiging araw-araw na po ang ating operasyon laban sa mga mandarayang timbangan,” Villanueva said.

The Treasurer’s Office headed by DOF confirmed Quezon City Treasurer Edgar T. Villanueva has enlisted the support of the Market Development and Administration Department and the Local Price Coordinating Council in ensuring the success of the city government’s campaign against fraudulent practices relative to weights and measures.

To date, a total of 1,210 defective weighing scales had already been confiscated by the treasurer’s office since the launching of the city’s renewed campaign against unsealed and unregistered weighing instruments on orders of Mayor Herbert Bautista.

This year, the Treasurer’s Office has already collected P848,399.57 in revenues from the imposition of regulatory fees and penalties for the use of instruments of weights and measures, said Arvin Gotladera, QC’s special assistant to the city treasurer.

According to Gotladera the amount is almost thrice the amount of collection posted in 2010, when the city was only able to collect P270,982.05.

As provided under the QC Revenue Code, instruments of weights and measures used in business should be tested and sealed annually.

For sealing digital/electronic weights and measure instruments, the city imposes a P500 regulatory fee and a P330 regulatory fee for sealing regular weighing scales.

As provided under the code, any person who fraudulently gives short weight or measure in the making of sale shall be punished with a fine of not less than P200 nor more than P5,000 or imprisonment of not less than nor more than one year or both at the discretion of the court. Precy/ Ramir/ Maureen Quiñones, PAISO