THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) confiscated over P3.5 million worth of substandard steel products in Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
The DTI is hoping “to rid the market of unsafe construction materials,” the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) said in a statement over the weekend.
Since the start of the year, the DTI’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) has seized over 23,000 pieces of deformed rebar in the two regions, which make up the immediate hinterland of Metro Manila.
“These products — sold by over 200 firms — were discovered in inspections the FTEB conducted in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal,” PISI said.
The products were found to have failed to meet the minimum mechanical and dimensional requirements, including tensile strength, elongation, and proper manufacturer markings.
PISI said that substandard materials pose a threat to infrastructure, especially during calamities.
“Substandard steel can deform or break under load, increasing the risk of structural failure in homes, high-rise buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure, especially during earthquakes, strong winds, or heavy usage,” it said.
According to PISI, FTEB Acting Director Marimel D. Porciuncula will be charging Flores Commercial and Wan Chiong Steel for selling non-compliant deformed bars based on FTEB testing.
PISI President Ronald C. Magsajo said steel manufacturers are being encouraged by the FTEB’s initiative to go after sellers of substandard steel and other construction materials.
“We continue to support the government’s drive to ensure public safety by removing substandard steel from the market and penalizing retailers and manufacturers found to be non-compliant with Fair Trade Laws,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile