In an opinion piece for BusinessWorld , the author recounts how a friend's motorcycle helmet, initially sturdy and safe, became noncompliant after regulators mandated that all helmets carry local certification.
The rule change effectively rendered previously acceptable helmets illegal even if they met international safety standards, raising questions about the added value of requiring a separate local approval process.
The piece highlights the broader issue of redundant certification in the Philippines, where products already certified abroad must undergo local testing, potentially creating unnecessary costs and barriers for consumers and businesses.