TRADE and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual ordered the immediate destruction of an estimated P18.8 million worth of sub-standard steel bars.
The sub-standard deformed steel bars were produced in the local steel mill located in Laguna and were found non-compliant with the requirements of the regulations when DTI, through its Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), conducted a surprise factory audit last March 20. A total of 136 bundles of deformed steel bars were cut into pieces in the manufacturer’s warehouse last 7 to 9 June 2023.
“Sub-standard products must be destroyed immediately to ensure that these products will not be distributed in the market for the purchase of unknowing consumers,” said Secretary Pascual.
“Our country is located within the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Department needs to be extremely vigilant and has to intensify our surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement of technical regulations for construction materials, especially for cement and steel products. I commend the DTI Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG) for their relentless efforts to consistently perform their mandates,” he added.
The BPS conducted an unannounced audit when a concerned citizen reported the presence of steel bars in the market bearing an alleged unregistered logo. During the surprise factory audit, the BPS auditors found the deformed steel bars bearing markings inconsistent with the markings prescribed by DAO 18-08:2018 and MC 21-07:2021 or the technical regulations governing the mandatory certification of steel products.
Subsequently, steel samples were randomly drawn and submitted to the BPS Product Testing Laboratory for independent testing. Results of the tests conducted showed that the steel bars did not conform to the requirement of PNS 49:2020, or the reference Philippine National Standard for deformed steel bars, particularly on elongation, height of lugs, average spacing, mass variations and marking requirements.
The substandard products were cut into pieces using the manufacturer’s facility and was witnessed by representatives from the BPS. After the products were cut into non-commercial lengths, the same were transferred to the company’s smelting facility for re-processing. The company was directed to conduct analysis on the root cause of their products’ non-conformance and was required to submit the proposed corrective measures to BPS for verification.
Only after the satisfactory result of the verification audit and conforming third party test results for covered products shall the BPS allow the manufacturer to resume its operation and production.
“We are reminding all manufacturers that the Department shall not waiver in its mandate to protect consumers. As we continue to promote a conducive business environment, we also expect that manufacturers, particularly of products covered by the DTI-BPS’ mandatory certification, shall consistently adhere to regulations in order to produce and distribute only good quality and safe products for the benefit of Filipino consumers,” Secretary Pascual emphasized.
Meanwhile, the DTI Consumer Protection Group encourages all consumers or any concerned citizen to immediately report any incident of possible sub-standard or uncertified products to any of the following DTI-CPG Contact information: Consumer Hotline 1-384, ConsumerCare@dti.gov.ph, ftebsmd@dti.gov.ph, fteb.ed@dti.gov.ph, cpab@dti.gov.ph, or directly to the DTI-BPS at bps@dti.gov.ph. *
