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Republic Act No. 11706· Enacted 2022-04-13

Timbangan ng Bayan Philippines 2022 — BatasKo ELI5

Libre na timbangan sa palengke! Alamin kung paano protektado ka ng Timbangan ng Bayan Law (RA 11706) sa mga daya sa timbang ng binibili mo.

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Official text — Republic Act No. 11706

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Preamble

Eighteenth Congress

Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-sixth day of July, two thousand twenty one.

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11706, April 13, 2022 ]

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TIMBANGAN NG BAYAN CENTERS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MARKETS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CHAPTER II, TITLE III OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7394, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES"

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1

Section 1.

Chapter II, Title III of Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the "

Consumer Act of the Philippines

", is hereby amended to read as follows:

"CHAPTER II

"Regulation of Practices Relative to Weights and Measures

"General Provision

"ARTICLE 61. x x x

"ARTICLE 62. x x x

"ARTICLE 62-A. Establishment of Timbangan ng Bayan Centers. - All provincial, city and municipal governments shall establish accessible Timbangan ng Bayan Centers in all public and private markets, including supermarkets, and when practicable, in flea markets or tiangges and grocery stores, within their respective localities.

"These centers must have the necessary instruments for determining weights and measures, which shall be available, free of charge, to all persons who need to confirm the accuracy of the quantity or measurements of products purchased or about to be purchased.

"The marker supervisor shall be in charge of the safekeeping and routine maintenance of the Timbangan ng Bayan instruments and shall be responsible for maintaining a record of every product found to be deficient in quantity or is substandard in dimension, as well as the establishment where the same was bought including the name/s of the proprietor/s or manager/s thereof. A certification duly issued by the marker supervisor or his/her authorized representative reflecting the contents of such record shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of Article 64 of this Act.

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"The prohibited acts provided under Article 64 of this Act shall likewise apply to Timbangan ng Bayan instruments."

"ARTICLE 62-B.

Coverage.

- The market mentioned in Article 62-A of this Act, which refers to a public place, building, or structure, where goods, merchandise, foodstuff, commodities or articles of commerce are displayed and offered for sale to the general public, includes the following:

"a)

Flea market or tiangge

- a temporary market where goods, merchandise, or food products are sold;

"b)

Grocery store

- a retail shop that primarily sells food and household items in a specific community; and

"c)

Supermarket

- a market larger than a grocery store in which shoppers serve themselves by using baskets or pushcarts in selecting commodities from shelves or cold display storages and paying for their purchases at the exit."

"ARTICLE 62-C.

Assistance to Provincial, City and Municipal Governments.

- The Department of Trade and Industry shall provide assistance to provinces, cities and municipalities in the establishments of Timbangan ng Bayan Centers nationwide:

Provided,

That priority shall be accorded to provinces, cities and municipalities belonging to the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-income classifications."

"ARTICLE 63. x x x

"Prohibited Acts

"ARTICLE 64.

Fraudulent Practices Relative to Weights and Measures.

- The following acts relating to weights and measures are prohibited:

"x x x

"h) for any person to fraudulently alter, tamper, vandalize or destroy any scale, balance, timbangan ng bayan instrument, weight or measure after it is officially sealed;

"x x x."

"ARTICLE 65.

Penalties.

-

"a) Any person who shall violate the provisions of paragraphs (a) to (g) and paragraph (l) of Article 64 of this Act or its implementing rules and regulations shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) or by imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than five (5) years or both upon the discretion of the court.

"b) The owner, possessor or user of instruments of weights and measures enumerated in paragraphs (h) to (k) of Article 64 of this Act shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) or by imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than five (5) years or both upon the discretion of the court:

Provided,

That two (2) successive violations of Article 64 of this Act shall, when applicable, automatically result in the cancellation of the business permit of the erring individual or business establishment."

Section 2

Section 2.

Implementing Rules and Regulations.

- Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Trade and Industry shall, in coordination with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the League of Provinces of the Philippines, the League of Cities of the Philippines, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

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Section 3 — Appropriations.→

Section 3.

Appropriations.

- The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of the new Article 62-A of the Consumer Act of the Philippines shall be charged against the national tax allotment and other funds of the local government unit concerned.

Section 4 — Separability Clause.→

Section 4.

Separability Clause.

- If any provision, section or part of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or impair any other provisions, sections or parts thereof.

Section 5 — Repealing Clause.→

Section 5.

Repealing Clause.

- All laws, decrees, orders, rules or regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, or modified accordingly.

Section 6 — Effectivity.→

Section 6.

Effectivity.

- The Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days folowing its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,

(SGD.)

LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO

Speaker of the House of Representatives

(SGD.)

VICENTE C. SOTTO III

President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1241 and House Bill No. 3255 was passed by the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives on January 31, 2022 and February 2, 2022, respectively.

(SGD.)

MARK LLANDRO L. MENDOZA

Secretary General

House of Representatives

(SGD.)

MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA

Secretary of the Senate

Approved: APR 13 2022

(SGD.)

RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

President of the Philippines

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

Full text on BatasKo. Original source: Official Gazette / Lawphil.

Naalala mo ba noong binili kang isda tapos pakiramdam mo mas mababa sa binanggit ng tindera? O bumili ka ng karne na sabing isang kilo, pero pag uwi mo at ni-recheck mo sa bahay — kulang?

Hindi ka lang nag-iisip. At ngayon, may batas na nagsasabi: may libreng timbangan ka dapat sa palengke para i-double check mismo.

ELI5 Summary: Republic Act No. 11706, signed in April 2022, requires all cities, municipalities, and provinces to set up Timbangan ng Bayan Centers sa mga public at private markets — kasama na ang supermarkets, tiangges, at grocery stores. Ang serbisyong ito ay libre para sa lahat. Kung may natuklasang kulang sa timbang, may legal na paraan para ireklamo — at may kasamang multa hanggang ₱300,000 o pagkakakulong ang mga manloloko.

Real Filipino Scenario: Parang Kulang ang Isang Kilo

Si Mike, 34, ay isang public school teacher sa Las Piñas. Tuwing Sabado, siya ang nagmo-marketing para sa kanilang pamilya.

Isang Sabado, bumili siya ng isang kilo ng liempo sa isang stall sa Almanza Market. Bayad na, nakasakay na siya pauwi — pero pag-dating ng bahay at ni-weigh niya sa sarili nilang timbangan, 780 grams lang.

Hindi siya sigurado kung ang kanilang timbangan sa bahay ang mali, o yung sa tindera. Kaya bumalik siya sa palengke at naghanap ng Timbangan ng Bayan Center.

Ano ang mangyayari?

Sa ilalim ng Article 62-A ng Consumer Act, na sinusugan ng RA 11706, ang local government ng Las Piñas ay obligado mag-set up ng libreng timbangan sa public market. Sinabi ni Mike sa market supervisor ang nangyari. Ni-weigh nila ang katulad na produkto mula sa parehong stall — at confirmed: kulang talaga.

Ano ang dapat gawin ni Mike:

  1. Huwag umalis sa palengke nang hindi dumaan sa Timbangan ng Bayan Center.
  2. Humingi ng certification mula sa market supervisor — ito ay prima facie evidence ng violation.
  3. I-file ang reklamo sa DTI o sa tanggapan ng lokal na pamahalaan.

What the Law Actually Says

Republic Act No. 11706, approved on April 13, 2022, amends Chapter II, Title III of Republic Act No. 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines) by inserting three new articles.

Article 62-A mandates that all provincial, city, and municipal governments shall establish accessible Timbangan ng Bayan Centers in:

  • All public markets
  • All private markets
  • Supermarkets
  • Flea markets or tiangges (when practicable)
  • Grocery stores (when practicable)

The service must be available free of charge to anyone who wants to verify the weight or measurement of something they bought — or are about to buy.

Article 62-A also designates the market supervisor as the person in charge of keeping a record of every product found deficient in quantity or substandard in dimension — including the name of the establishment and the proprietor.

A certification from the market supervisor is considered prima facie evidence of a violation under Article 64 — meaning it's enough to start legal proceedings.

Article 62-C requires the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to assist local governments in setting up these centers — with priority given to 4th, 5th, and 6th class municipalities, which are generally the poorer, smaller localities.

Article 65 — Penalties under the law are serious:

  • Violation: Fine of ₱50,000 to ₱300,000 and/or imprisonment of 1 to 5 years
  • Two successive violations can result in automatic cancellation of the business permit

What This Means for You

Sa simple: mayroon kang karapatan na i-verify ang timbang ng iyong binibili — bago mo bayaran o pagkatapos.

Hindi kailangan ng gadget. Hindi kailangan ng sariling timbangan. Ang lokal na pamahalaan ang may obligasyon na maglagay ng libreng timbangan sa palengke para sa lahat.

Kung kulang ang timbang ng binili mo, hindi lang ito isang away sa tindera — ito ay isang paglabag sa batas. At ang market supervisor — hindi lang sila bantay ng palengke. Sila ang may kapangyarihang mag-record ng mga paglabag at mag-issue ng certification na magagamit bilang ebidensya.

Ang batas na ito ay hindi lang para sa malalaking halaga. Kahit isang kilo ng kamatis, may karapatang i-check.

Real Filipino Scenario: Ang Timbangan sa Botika

Si Reggie, 27, ay isang pharmacy assistant sa Baguio City. Bukod sa trabaho sa botika, nagbe-benta rin siya ng homemade pastillas at peanut brittle sa weekend tiangge sa Session Road area.

Isang tiangge day, lumapit sa kanya ang isang customer at sinabing kulang daw ang laman ng 250g na pack ng pastillas niya. Galit ang customer — at nagbabanta na ireklamo siya.

Nagulat si Reggie. Hindi niya alam na ang tiangges at flea markets ay kasama rin sa coverage ng Timbangan ng Bayan Law — hindi lang ang malalaking palengke.

Ano ang totoong nangyari ayon sa batas?

Under Article 62-B ng RA 11706, ang flea market o tiangge — kahit temporary market lang — ay kasama sa coverage. Ibig sabihin, ang Baguio City government ay may obligasyon ding maglagay ng Timbangan ng Bayan Center sa Session Road tiangge, at obligado si Reggie bilang seller na sumunod sa tamang timbang.

Ano ang dapat gawin ni Reggie:

  1. Bilang seller: Siguraduhin na ang timbang ng produkto ay tama bago ibenta. Gumamit ng calibrated na timbangan.
  2. I-welcome ang customer na mag-verify sa Timbangan ng Bayan Center ng tiangge — huwag pigilan.
  3. Kung wala pang Timbangan ng Bayan Center sa kanilang tiangge, i-report ito sa city hall ng Baguio para ma-set up na.
  4. Kung talagang kulang ang timbang, ibalik ang bayad o dagdagan ang produkto — huwag makipagtalo.

What Most Filipinos Get Wrong

"Bago lang mabibili, pwede pa lang i-check ang timbang."

Mali. Ang batas ay malinaw: pwede mong gamitin ang Timbangan ng Bayan bago o pagkatapos mabili ang produkto. Kahit nakabaon ka na ng iyong wallet, may karapatan kang bumalik at mag-verify.

"Pang-palengke lang ito — hindi kasama ang SM o Robinsons."

Mali rin. Ang supermarkets ay explicitly included sa Article 62-A. Kaya ang malalaking supermarket chains ay covered din.

"Ang DTI lang ang may kapangyarihan."

Hindi eksakto. Ang pangunahing responsibilidad ay nasa local government unit (LGU) — ang provincial, city, o municipal government ang dapat mag-set up ng centers. Ang DTI ay tumutulong at nagbibigay ng assistance, pero ang LGU ang may pangunahing obligasyon.

"Kailangan ko pang bayaran ang serbisyo ng Timbangan ng Bayan."

Hinding-hindi. Ang serbisyo ay libre ayon sa batas. Kung may nagsi-charge sa iyo, iyon mismo ay isang problema na dapat ireklamo.

"Kailangan kong magdala ng sariling ebidensya para mag-reklamo."

Hindi na. Ang certification mula sa market supervisor na nagsasabing kulang ang timbang ay prima facie evidence na ng violation — sapat na ito para magsimula ng legal na aksyon.

What to Do if Your Rights Are Violated

Ano ang Gagawin

  1. Pumunta sa Timbangan ng Bayan Center sa iyong palengke. Hanapin ang market supervisor at i-request na i-weigh ang produkto.

  2. Humingi ng written certification. Kung ang timbang ay kulang o mali, humingi ng opisyal na certification mula sa market supervisor. Huwag umalis nang wala ito — ito ang iyong pinakamahalagang dokumento.

  3. I-document ang lahat. Kumuha ng larawan ng resibo, ng produkto, ng timbangan, at ng stall o establishment. I-note ang oras, petsa, at pangalan ng seller kung pwede.

  4. Makipag-ugnayan sa DTI. Mag-file ng reklamo sa pinakamalapit na DTI Provincial/Regional Office, o sa pamamagitan ng DTI hotline: 1-384 (1-DTI). Maaari ka ring mag-file online sa dti.gov.ph.

  5. Mag-reklamo sa iyong lokal na pamahalaan. Ang city o municipal hall — specifically ang tanggapan na namamahala ng markets — ay may kakayahang aksyunan ang mga seller na nanloloko.

  6. Kung wala pang Timbangan ng Bayan Center sa inyong palengke — mismo ito ay isang paglabag ng LGU sa kanilang obligasyon. Maaari kang magsampa ng reklamo sa DTI tungkol dito.

  7. Para sa mas malubhang kaso — halimbawa, pag-tamper ng opisyal na Timbangan ng Bayan instruments — ang penalty ay maaaring umabot ng ₱300,000 na multa at/o 5 taon na pagkakakulong. Kumonsulta sa isang abogado o sa Public Attorney's Office (PAO) kung kailangan.

Related Laws

Mga Madalas Itanong / FAQ

Q: May timbangan bang libre sa supermarket? Akala ko sa palengke lang iyon.

A: Oo, kasama ang supermarkets. Ayon sa Article 62-A ng RA 11706, ang lahat ng public at private markets — kasama ang supermarkets — ay kailangang maglagay ng Timbangan ng Bayan Center. Kung wala sa inyong local supermarket, pwede itong ireklamo sa DTI.

Q: Ano ang mangyayari sa tindera kung napatunayan na nanloko siya sa timbang?

A: Malaki ang consequence. Under Article 65 ng Consumer Act (na sinusugan ng RA 11706), maaaring maharap siya sa multa na ₱50,000 hanggang ₱300,000 at/o imprisonment na 1 hanggang 5 taon. Kung dalawang beses na siyang mahuli, automatic na maaaring ma-cancel ang kanyang business permit.

Q: Paano kung ang Timbangan ng Bayan sa aming palengke ay sira o wala?

A: Ang pag-maintain ng Timbangan ng Bayan instruments ay responsibilidad ng market supervisor. Kung sira o wala, i-report ito agad sa market administration. Kung walang aksyon, dalhin ang reklamo sa city/municipal hall at sa DTI. Ang kawalan ng Timbangan ng Bayan Center sa palengke ay isang paglabag ng LGU sa kanilang mandato.

Q: Pwede ko bang gamitin ang sariling timbangan bilang ebidensya?

A: Ang iyong sariling timbangan ay maaaring suportang ebidensya, pero ang pinaka-convincing ay ang certification mula sa market supervisor ng Timbangan ng Bayan Center — dahil ito ang tinutukoy ng batas bilang prima facie evidence. Mas mabuting gamitin ang opisyal na Timbangan ng Bayan kaysa umasa sa sariling timbangan sa bahay.

Q: Applicable ba ito sa online sellers? Bumili ako ng karne sa Facebook marketplace at kulang.

A: Ang RA 11706 ay nakatuon sa mga physical markets — palengke, supermarket, tiangge, at grocery stores. Para sa online purchases, ibang batas ang applicable tulad ng RA 7394 (Consumer Act) at ang mga regulasyon ng DTI para sa e-commerce. Ang DTI ay mayroon ding proseso ng reklamo para sa online transactions.

Sources

  • Republic Act No. 11706 (2022). An Act Providing for the Establishment of Timbangan ng Bayan Centers in Public and Private Markets, Amending for the Purpose Chapter II, Title III of Republic Act No. 7394, Otherwise Known as the "Consumer Act of the Philippines." Approved April 13, 2022. Retrieved from (archived at)

  • Republic Act No. 7394 (1992). The Consumer Act of the Philippines. Retrieved from

  • Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Consumer Protection. Retrieved from https://www.dti.gov.ph/konsyumer/

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Legal disclaimer: BatasKo provides general legal information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a licensed Filipino lawyer or the Public Attorney's Office (PAO).

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