Cement makers welcome safeguard duty on imports

Local cement manufacturers and workers welcomed yesterday the decision of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to impose definitive safeguard measures on imported cement.

Philippine Cement Manufacturers Corp. (Philcemcor) president Rico Alfiler said that the DTI’s decision to impose safeguard measures "levels the playing field with the cement industries of our Asian neighbors and is the correct policy decision to make given the current regional excess capacity situation we are in."

"The safeguard duty would provide the stability necessary for cement producers to continue investing in their people and plants in order to ensure that the Philippine cement industry remains world class in every aspect," he added.

According to Alfiler, the temporary tariff remedies which have been in place since December 2001 have given cement companies the breathing room necessary to implement key efficiency efforts that help ensure the long-term viability and welfare of the communities in which cement plants operate.

Samuel Eslava, secretary-general of the Philippine Cement Workers Council, said "the bold and decisive move by Secretary Roxas has given flesh and blood to Republic Act 8800 as a credible and reliable measure that workers in local industries affected by trade liberalization can rely on to preserve and defend their jobs and livelihood."

Eslava stressed that cement workers and their families are the first and foremost victims of the dumping of imports.

He warned that "the unabated flooding of imports destroys jobs and threatens livelihoods." – Marianne Go