CEBU, Philippines - Following an inspection at major malls last week, the Department of Trade and Industry -7 will inspect products in small stores in Cebu City next week to ensure that the Christmas lights being sold there are safe to use.
DTI personnel will check if the lights have the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker. The sticker signifies the safety of the items sold.
“So far karon dili pa ingon ana kadaghan ang mga gagmay nga store nga namaligya ug Christmas lights. Kanang naa sa mga daplin-daplin among target kay ang dagkong mga malls okay na man,” said Zaide Bation, chief of DTI-7’s Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Division.
Bation reminded buyers anew to check the year the ICC was issued. DTI only allows stickers issued from 2012 to 2014.
“Kung duna man gani 2011 issued nga sticker, dili na nato i-allow kay chances are kuyaw sa sunog kay ang wires magpilit na unya ang bulbs kuyaw,” Bation said.
She also reminded the public not to leave Christmas lights on overnight because too much heat will melt its wires, which may trigger fire.
“Okay ra gyud nga naa na sulod sa balay, but we should also not abuse the use of Christmas lights because it is not designed to be used an entire night… so kung matulog na, pwede na i-off kay tungod sa kainit ang bulb pwede maguba ug ang wirings pwede mahilis,” she said.
Bation also advised that the lights be put up far from reach of children, from cooking areas, or materials that are flammable like loose paper. — Ria Mae Y. Booc/JMO (FREEMAN)