ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo raised alarm over the potential job loss for hundreds of thousands of Filipino workers due to the unchecked online sale of substandard and counterfeit products, predominantly from China.
Tulfo, along with fellow lawmakers, plans to file a resolution on Monday calling for a congressional investigation into these “unfair online sales practices” that are undermining local manufacturers and short-changing unsuspecting consumers.
“If this is not prevented, many manufacturers in the Philippines who follow the correct rules of our law will be forced to close due to losses. And when this happens, hundreds of thousands of our countrymen will definitely lose their jobs,” he said.
According to Tulfo, as many as 15 businessmen, mostly manufacturers and sellers of appliances, personally came to his office to seek help because their business has been affected by the rampant sale of substandard and fake products that are sold at cheaper prices.
“These businessmen, they are the ones who pay the right taxes and follow all the regulations and rules established by our law. But they are the most affected and are now losing money due to unfair sales in the market,” the Deputy House Majority Leader said.
The manufacturing firms who came to Tulfo’s office and asked for help include brand names such as the American Home, Asahi, Astron, Camel, Caribbean, Concepcion, Cooldaddy, Dowell, Eureka, Fujidenzo, Hanabishi, Karrlsson, Kyowa, Kuchenluxe, Nikon, Nova, Tefal, Tiger, Union and 3D with a combined total of 300,000 Filipino workers.
“Let’s not wait for them to go bankrupt and close their companies before we act when hundreds of thousands of our countrymen have lost their jobs,” the lawmaker said.
