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Philippine industry group calls on trade department to tighten steel, cement testing-The 19th China (Guangzhou ) Int’l Casting product Exhibition
10/12/2017 casting expo-Die-casting expo-foundry expo |
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Business Mirror reported that Federation of Philippine Industries has called on the Department of Trade and Industry to test all imported steel and cement shipments entering the country. In a letter sent to the DTI, FPI Chairman Jesus L Arranza expressed concern regarding numerous reports of substandard steel and cement entering the Philippine market.
He called on the agency to tighten controls for specific construction materials that are widely used in infrastructure and home building, and crucial to public safety.
Arranza, in a news statement released over the weekend, called on the trade department to strengthen rules on post-shipment inspection of imported steel and cement, amid complaints regarding uncertified and substandard steel bars, mislabeled and “expired” cement sold in retail outlets in Luzon and the Visayas.
One documented instance, which was reported by its members, reportedly showed some 300,000 expired bags and yet got distributed to different parts of the Philippines.
In another, a total of 56 hardware stores in Pangasinan and La Union were reportedly found to be selling not only substandard steel, but also other uncertified construction and electrical products.
Arranza expressed concern that people’s lives will be put at risk if the DTI allows untested steel and cement to be sold in the market. He said that “The majority of the companies of our two association members, the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Iron Steel Institute, are specifically concerned about two reported DTI draft orders allowing cement to be released even before the safety testing is completed. It also said that a draft provision that recall orders will be made for unsafe steel and cement is not reasonable because these will already be widely distributed and be part of houses and buildings.”
And if this information is true, Arranza added, the federation share with them their concern on the safety of the consuming public.
The FPI chairman also expressed apprehension on relying completely on pre-shipment inspection using third-party private-sector groups, which will in effect shows that “we do not rely on our people”. The federation, Arranza said, trusts the DTI more than the third-party pre-shipment inspectors, particularly considering that there are qualified and competent personnel in the DTI that can conduct the necessary post-shipment inspection.
He added that “Indeed, with all due respect and deference, it is the DTI’s responsibility to make sure that the products that are coming in are following the quality and safety standards strictly.”
Mr Arranza said that “With the expected building boom, we should be making sure that all the materials coming in follow local regulations. Clearly, loosening regulations is tantamount to risking the public’s safety.”
He also encouraged steel and cement importers to ask the trade department for the list of complaints filed by consumer and trade groups so that they can verify for itself which companies are the ones involved in the importation of the reported substandard products.
-The 19th China (Guangzhou ) Int’l
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