CHRISTMAS lights remain at the top of the list of the traditional Filipino Christmas décors because of their affordability and attractiveness.

As Christmas draws nearer, these colorful lights deck houses, posts, churches, buildings and business establishments—even trees and bushes are adorned with these to add a feel of merriment to the surroundings.

Christmas lights can be bought almost anywhere—in department stores, bazaars, even along sidewalks, especially along the areas of Baclaran, Carriedo and Divisoria. Some come in as cheap as three 50-bulb set for P100.

But buying cheap products does not always give value for money. News regarding accidental fires caused by defective Christmas lights should serve as a warning that using substandard ones pose a danger to life and property because instead of cheering up homes, substandard ones can start a fire, burn a house down and take lives along.

Thus, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) advises all consumers to purchase, and use only Christmas lights that have been certified by the Bureau of Product Standards (DTI-BPS) and carries the Philippine Standard (PS) or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark.  

Manufacturers and importers of products under the Philippine National Standards or PNS for mandatory certification are required to have their produced goods and import shipments (on a per bill of lading basis), respectively, subjected to sampling and testing.

A Christmas-light set is one of the critical products required to undergo testing and certification. PNS 189:2000, or the specifications on lighting sets using miniature and subminiature lamps for decorative purposes, has four mandatory requirements for critical parameters. These are ball pressure, torque, temperature rise and wire tests.

Only manufacturers and importers whose products have been certified and are given the PS license and ICC certificate accordingly are the only ones authorized to stamp/print the PS mark and stick the ICC mark on their product.
For a safer Christmas season this year, the DTI ensures that only reliable Christmas-light sets are available in the market.  To date, the DTI has not awarded any manufacturer of the PS license.  Only four importers were issued the ICC certificate and were allowed to distribute and sell ICC-marked Christmas-light sets in the Philippine market.

Moreover, the DTI declared that only those importers that have been issued the ICC certificate from 2007 to the present could sell their sets of Christmas lights. The DTI therefore encourages consumers to look for the following brands of Christmas lights that have passed the required safety tests of DTI-BPS—Goldcrest, Pinecrest, Fuji Bright, Fuji-Lite, Lucky Star, Lights and Shine, Joy of Lights,

Hawaii Lights, Christmas Star, Landlite, North Star, GHC, ET, Mabuhay Star, Yuletide Fantasy, Star, Good, 7 Star, Rainbow, Diamond Bright, Golden Season’s, Price Mart, Home Elements, North Center, Andrew, Good, Light Chain, Light Master, Christmas Magic, Merry Christmas, MLA Merry Christmas, Tinsel Town, Twinkle Star and Diamond Bright (as of November 2009).

Consumers should check the packaging to see that it indicates the following information: manufacturer’s/supplier’s/distributor’s name, address and trademark; rated voltage and rated wattage (set and lamp); the words “For indoor use only”; the standard PNS 189:2000; and suitable warnings (e.g. disconnect from power supply before removing or inserting lamp, avoid damage to insulation material, avoid risk of overheating).

Here are some practical tips to remember when installing Christmas lights to avoid accidents:

1. Check if the wire has an outside diameter size of 1.5 mm. The wire insulation should not be frayed, cracked or burned. It should also be flexible and not brittle.
2. The pins of the plug should not be easily bended with a finger.
3. Do not connect more than three lighting sets.
4. Use and replace lamps according to the specified voltage and wattage.
5. Do not replace a fuse lamp with a non- fuse lamp.
6. Do not use outdoors unless specified, since indoor lights are not made to withstand weather conditions.

To check the quality and ensure the safety of the buying public, DTI-BPS requests importers with ICC certificates issued in 2006 and below to submit their products for tests for a reissuance of new ICC certificates.

Manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers found selling uncertified Christmas lights are subject to administrative penalties under Republic Act 7394, or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Consumers may report stores selling Christmas lights without ICC marks to DTI Direct 751-3330. For more information on Christmas lights, visit www.bps.dti.gov.ph.

Send your feedback and queries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For in-depth information on consumer issues, listen to Konsyumer Atbp. every Saturday, 10 to 11:30 a.m. over dzMM 630kHz or by Teleradyo via Sky Cable channel 26. For consumer complaints, call the DTI Consumer Assistance Hotline 751-3330 or text DTI<space>complaint and send to 2920 for Globe and Smart subscribers.