DTI orients Calamba mall tenants on warranty law

By Carlo P. Gonzaga

Sunday 3rd of June 2012

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, June 3 (PIA) --The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of Region 4A recently held an orientation on the Consumer Act of the Philippines (CAP) for tenants of a mall in the city.

About 50 tenants of SM City Calamba attended the orientation that focused on the warranty law.

During the discussion, DTI Consumer and Welfare Division Chief Felizardo B. Cupit explained the importance of a product’s warranty that consumers must know which according to him has two types, the implied and express.

Implied warranty, according to Cupit, refers to the performance of the product based on the universal perception of the consumer where the product is intended for use. It is a contract law term for certain assurances that are presumed to be made in the sale of products or real property, due to the circumstances of the sale.

These assurances are characterized as warranties irrespective of whether the seller has expressly promised them orally or in writing. They include an implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, an implied warranty of merchantability for products, implied warranty of workmanlike quality for services and an implied warranty of habitability for a home.

On the other hand, express warranty is a promise that the item will live up to the promise of the seller. Most express warranties come from the manufacturer or are included in the seller’s contract. It can also be created by a simple statement on an advertisement or a sign in the store.

The Consumer Act of the Philippines is a state policy that protect the interests of the consumer, promote its general welfare and establish standards of conduct for business and industry with the following objectives: protection against hazards to health and safety; protection against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices; provision of information and education to facilitate sound choice and the proper exercise of rights by the consumer; provision of adequate rights and means of redress; and involvement of consumer representatives in the formulation of social and economic policies. (CPG/Grace Bondad Nicolas-PIA4A)