Sale of substandard pipes stopped

MANILA, Philippines - Hardware stores in Bataan have committed to stop selling uncertified and substandard steel pipes that are being peddled by unscrupulous importers and suppliers in support of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) campaign to implement the provisions of Philippine National Standards (PNS) 26:2003.

In a manifesto submitted to DTI-Bataan provincial director Yay P. Lasam, the 77 members of the Bataan Hardware and Lumber Owners Association said even them are being victimized by these importers and suppliers of substandard black iron and galvanized steel pipes and tubes and not just the consumers.

“We strongly believe we are the ones being victimized by importers and distributors of uncertified and/or substandard imported steel products,” Jun Bagsic, the association’s president, said.

The group said these importers and distributors took advantage of the ignorance of some of their members on the laws governing the selling of products covered by mandatory standards as stated in RA 4109 (Philippine Standardization Law) and RA 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines).

Now, with the help of the DTI-Bataan and the Philippine Association of Black Iron and Galvanized Steel Pipes and Tubes Manufacturers Inc., the hardware store owners in the province have been made aware of PNS 26:2003, which mandates that all locally produced steel pipes should carry the PS (Philippine Standards) mark and ICC (Import Commodity Clearance) for the imported ones.