Trinidad junkshops ops regulated soon to stop stolen items’ sale

By Susan C. Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- While recognizing the role of junkshops in helping address the  growing garbage problems by buying  recyclable materials, the town’s local government saw the need to regulate operation and maintenance of junkshops in the area.

Authored by Councilor Roderick Angiwan, the measure will help protect properties from theft and robbery.  Reportedly some materials being sold in junkshops are stolen like cable wires, steel bars, electric and water meters, steel and other metallic and non-metallic materials.

Municipal Ordinance No. 242 series 2015, now with the provincial board’s committee on trade and industry for study, covers  all junks shops operating in the town including street or ambulant junk buyers and dealers from outside the town doing such activities in the  area. Exempted  are  shops engaged in the sale of junk automotive parts.

Requirements that need to be complied among junkshop owners are business permit, sanitary permit and health certificates, structural requirements, recording of transactions.   

They should also follow operational guidelines as indicated such as stockpiling procedures, inspection, and registration of roving collectors.

Ambulant junk buyers and pickers are required to register with the Business Licensing Office or get a permit from the Mayor’s Office.

Penalties for violators include  P1,000  shall will be charged for the first offense, second offense, P1,500 while third and final offense, P2,500.00 and or cancellation of business permit.

The measure also states that a Junk Shop Task Force shall  be created to enforce the ordinance chaired by the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer. Its functions shall be  be to evaluate application for junk shop operations, inspect proposed sites including existing junkshops, accepts and acts on complaints on the operations of all junkshops and junk dealers, file  violations, monitor  weights and measures used by the junkshop.