Politics · Philippines Bureau
Tulfo criticizes DTI over seven-month consumer complaint backlog
Senator Raffy Tulfo has called out the Department of Trade and Industry for delays in resolving consumer complaints, with processing times stretching up to seven months. The criticism emerged during a Senate finance subcommittee budget hearing focused on the agency's enforcement of consumer protection policies.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Senator Raffy Tulfo expressed displeasure with the Department of Trade and Industry on Tuesday, citing prolonged delays in consumer complaint resolution during a Senate finance subcommittee budget hearing.
The DTI revealed that consumer complaints could require up to seven months for resolution, a timeline Tulfo characterized as unacceptable. The senator raised particular concerns about the agency's implementation of the No Return, No Exchange policy, questioning whether current procedures adequately protect Filipino consumers from unfair market practices.
Tulfo's remarks underscore ongoing tensions over DTI's consumer affairs operations, with the senator suggesting that the extended processing period leaves complainants vulnerable and undermines the effectiveness of existing consumer protection frameworks.
The DTI has yet to respond publicly to the senator's criticism. The agency's budget performance remains under scrutiny as lawmakers evaluate whether current resource allocation and operational procedures adequately serve the department's mandate to protect consumer rights and ensure fair trade practices across the Philippines.