DTI crackdown improves steel compliance — PISI

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) has reported a marked decline in the number of hardware stores selling uncertified and substandard steel products, including reinforcing bars or kabilya, following the enforcement activities launched by the Department of Trade Industry (DTI).

“We noticed an improvement in compliance as the number of stores that had violations in our own monitoring activities dropped from more than 40 percent in 2018 to 25 percent as of end-July or after the nationwide strike that DTI launched on substandard products,” PISI president Roberto Cola said.

But Cola cautioned that one-fourth of stores monitored continue to sell steel products that pose danger to the lives of people. “That’s still a lot of substandard steel out there. Thus, we support the DTI in its monitoring and enforcement activities until we have fully eradicated substandard products in the market.”

The DTI earlier fined 34 hardware and business establishments with penalties totaling to P1.8 million for alleged sales of uncertified and substandard construction materials in NCR and Luzon.

“We are reiterating our commitment to protect consumers from uncertified products. This serves as a warning to all establishments selling substandard and uncertified products. Apart from the fine and confiscation of products, they are also losing their investments. Their credibility as well as safety of consumers and the public are what’s at stake here,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.

The monitoring and enforcement operations by the DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) have also led to the confiscation of P17 million worth of uncertified and substandard construction materials in the first eight months of the year.

“We are thankful the authorities are working to identify and apprehend those manufacturing and selling substandard construction materials. The continued use of these products, especially in construction of homes, put people’s lives at risk and can only spell disaster for our people in the future,” Cola said.

He noted that PISI’s own monitoring operations showed that nearly all substandard steel products that were tested came from manufacturing plants using induction furnace equipment. “It is very likely that the confiscated steel bars came from nearby induction furnace plants which continue to feed hardware stores with substandard steel products.”

According to Cola, “Use of induction furnace to produce construction grade steel has been banned by several countries, including China, due to the poor and inconsistent quality of its output.”

Apart from commenting on the danger of using substandard steel in construction, Cola also stressed possible public health and environmental consequences associated with operating outdated induction furnace plants.

“The pollutants released by the outdated induction furnace plants can result in long term health problems for the surrounding communities and damage to the environment,” he said.