By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Over P737,000 worth of substandard steel products were destroyed on Friday (Nov. 29) in Trece Martires City, Cavite. The move was instructed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to prevent its sale and distribution in the local market.
“Substandard steel products pose significant risks to public safety, especially in a country like the Philippines that is prone to earthquakes. Thus, the DTI remains resolute in safeguarding Filipinos from these dangers by upholding the regulations for steel products in conformance with the Philippine National Standards,” said DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque.
She also issued a strong warning against those who are profiting from the manufacture and sale of substandard goods at the expense of the safety and well-being of Filipino citizens.
“This firm action against substandard steel products underscores our resolve to protect lives and foster a business environment that prioritizes consumer welfare and responsible manufacturing across the country,” the DTI chief expressed.
The DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) witnessed the destruction of 13,000 pieces of substandard re-rolled steel bars, which failed to meet the minimum technical requirements set out in Philippine National Standards (PNS) 211:2002, a regulation that governs re-rolled steel bars used in concrete reinforcement.
Among the destroyed bars were 5,000 pieces of Grade 170 – 6 mm and 8,000 pieces of Grade 170 – 7 mm substandard re-rolled bars. These were reduced to random lengths of less than 6 meters using hydraulic and oxy-fuel cutters and will be re-processed as scrap.
Furthermore, Fair Trade Group (FTG) Supervising Head and Assistant Secretary Agaton Teodoro O. Uvero encouraged consumers to be vigilant and prioritize the durability of materials when purchasing products, especially for their homes. He reminded consumers to always look for the ICC sticker or PS mark particularly on items that are regulated by DTI-BPS.
-avds