‘Buy only safe Christmas lights, other decorations to avoid accidents’ – DTI-Kalinga to consumers

Tabuk City, Kalinga - As Christmas day approaches, people begin to buy decorations like Christmas light and other materials which require use of current, but with it comes risks; thus DTI-Kalinga reminds the public to be wary of what they get.

Yuletide fires, according to Bureau of Fire and Protection Data, implicate defective Christmas lights as one of the reasons of blazes in the country as these products have very thin wires and prolonged use can melt the insulation.

In December 25, 2017, Kalinga suffered its biggest fire when St. Joseph Church was razed to the ground on Christmas morning. The BFP-Tabuk indicated the fire may have been caused by faulty wiring. Others said it could be from the Christmas lights which might have been affected when the power conked out twice.

To address risks of fires and electrocution, along with other consumers’ concerns, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Kalinga held a press conference on Tuesday, October 15.

The conference is one of the month's activities lined up by the Agency for Consumers Welfare Month (CWM). With this year’s theme "Be Smart, Assert Your Consumer Rights," the CWM celebration is an activity-filled awareness month in consumer responsibilities and consumer rights.

DTI-Kalinga Provincial Director Renie M. Ramos reminded buyers to look for certification marks of the Christmas lights, particularly the ICC sticker to make sure that they are safe.

The ICC, or Import Commodity Clearance sticker, is a guide and guarantee to the consumers that what they buy are quality and safety products that comply with the relevant Philippine National Standards (PNS).

“Regarding dagitoy Christmas lights, maysa nga i-check da ket nu adda ICC sticker na diay,” said the provincial director, adding that buyers should ensure that the packaging is intact and includes clear instructions for safe use.

For their part, DTI Kalinga, along with other concerned offices, will inspect vendors selling Christmas lights to ensure only safe products are available in the province.

By being cautious and informed, the agency expects that iKalingas can enjoy Christmas without compromising on safety, as the holiday season should be a time of joy, not a time for unnecessary incidents.