CEBU CITY (Feb. 2, 2024) – The Office of the City Markets (OCM) has penalized at least 223 vendors for using faulty weighing scales from January to December last year.

OCM’s John Paul Amores. | 📷 PPRMN

John Paul Amores, OCM public information officer, said most of the violators were ambulant vendors.

“Kasagaran sa mga nasakpan nga naggamit og tikasan nga timbangan kay mga ambulant vendors nga nag-operate sa gawas ug walay mga permit,” Amores said in Kumusta Ka’Sugbo, Sugboanon Channel’s news and public affairs teleradyo program, on Jan. 26.

Amores said OCM confiscated faulty weighing scales after receiving complaints from marketgoers that they were being cheated on by some vendors at the city’s main and satellite markets.

OCM manages Carbon Market Units 1, 2 and 3, Freedom Park and Warwick Barracks, Pasil Fish Market, and the public markets of Cogon Ramos, Poblacion Pardo, Taboan and T. Padilla.

An OCM worker checks on the accuracy of a vendor’s weighing scale. | 📷 OCM Cebu City FB page

Amores said last year OCM focused its monitoring at the wet market section of Carbon Market.

He said OCM confiscates weighing scales if these do not function well and would provide inaccurate readings.

Amores said the city’s Market Code states that registered vendors caught using defective weighing scales could face penalties, like up to three months’ worth of their rentals.

For ambulant vendors, they are only required to pay a P500 fine but their weighing scales would be confiscated and could no longer be allowed to operate, depending on the gravity of the violation, he added.

Amores said the defective weighing scales will be destroyed after these are confiscated.

Precautions

An OCM worker carries a confiscated weighing scale. | 📷 OCM Cebu City FB page

Amores urged marketgoers to always verify the weight of the items that they bought at a “Timbangan ng Bayan” at any market.

The Department of Trade and Industry has placed its own independent weighing scales at all markets to ensure that marketgoers can recheck what they bought, he added.

Amores also urged marketgoers to approach OCM’s complaints desk if they have some concerns.

“If naa sila’y reklamo, naa ta’y complaints desk kada merkado. Modawat sad ta ug reklamo sa atong OCM Facebook page. Amo dayon na aksyonan,” he added.

Amores also advised vendors to be honest to their customers to avoid any trouble. | PPRMN / jkv

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