Importation of construction materials up in Jan-February

CEBU, Philippines - With the continued rehabilitation in calamity-stricken areas in the Visayas region, the Department of Trade and Industry Cebu Provincial Office (DTI-CPO) reported an increase of the importation of construction materials in the first two months of 2014.

DTI-CPO Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Division chief Zaide Bation said that to address the increasing demand of construction and housing materials in disaster-hit areas particularly in the northern part of Cebu and other provinces in the region, the industry felt the need to import more products from foreign manufacturers in addition to the supply of local suppliers.

She said that although local manufacturers have already expanded the production capacity of their plants, it is still not sufficient to meet the needs of the growing market.

Bation said that the importation of ceramic tiles has already existed years ago and was made mandatory for Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) issuance in 2008. In 2011, the importation of ceramic tiles had increased.

She, however, noted that importation of other construction materials such as galvanized iron sheets, nails, plywood, steel bars, steel pipes, steel wires and white cement also started to rise from January to February of   2014.

Based on DTI-CPO’s list of importation of construction materials for the first two months of this year, there are 15 companies who imported 439,144 boxes of ceramic tiles, 10,320 pieces and 24,209 packages of GI sheets were imported while 2,000 packages of nails were traded in.

There were also 23 packages and 5,810 sheets of plywood, 102,980 kilograms of steel bars and 150 pieces of steel pipes were imported, 501 packages and 22.51 MT of steel wires in coil and 6 522 bags of white cement were also enlisted for importation in the province.

These products were imported from six countries including China, Vietnam, Spain, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. In the Visayas region, Cebu is the main port of entry for importers.

DTI-Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) formulates and implements quality standards for products covered by mandatory certification.

The trade department regulates the sale of construction materials such as black iron (BI) and galvanized iron (GI) steel pipes; cement, Portland, and Pozzolan; ceramic tiles; deformed steel bars; equal-leg angle bars; flat glass; polybutylene (PB) pipes; polyethylene (PE) pipes for potable water supply; unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) pipes for potable water supply; UPVC rigid electrical conduit; PVC-U pipes for drain waste and vent; plywood; rerolled steel bars; sanitary wares; steel sheets for roofing; low-carbon steel wires; and wire nails.

Other products under the BPS Product Certification Scheme also include household appliances; lamps and lighting products; wiring devices, wires and cables; chemical and consumer products.

Under the DTI-BPS Product Certification Scheme, all manufacturers and importers of product covered under mandatory certification are required to apply for ICC or the Philippine Standards (PS) License, and to subject their products to tests based on the requirements of applicable Philippine National Standards (PNS) at the BPS Testing Center to any DTI-accredited laboratory, prior to its distribution and sale.

From 2006 to 2013, issuance of ICC peaks during the months of April, July, and October. Months of May and August have the lowest ICC issuance. ICC applications, on the other hand, are at peak during the months of July and August.

For three consecutive years, ceramic tiles topped the list of imported products with ICC issuance from 2011 to 2013.

For the eight-year period, top importers are importing flat glass, brand new tires, ceramic tiles and appliances.

Bation lauded the stricter implementation of the Bureau of Customs among importers. Those products covered under the mandatory certification will pass through the evaluation of DTI.

Out of the 39 PS License Holders in Cebu and Bohol under the list of DTI-CPO, two are manufacturers of GI sheets, six of steel wires and nails, nine for cement, three for steel bars, one for low-carbon steel wires, and one manufacturer of BI/GI pipes.

Bation said that DTI representatives conduct surveillance and annual assessment in the facilities of the factories of the PS license holders.

The trade department also monitors the markets for uncertified and substandard products covered by mandatory certification.

Those who are caught to have violated the rule will be penalized with a minimum fine of P17,500 up to P300,000, cease and desist order, seizure, forfeiture, cancellation of permit granted by DTI, censure, closure, and recall among others. (FREEMAN)