MANILA – The Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) on Monday expressed its concern over substandard construction materials that have penetrated some hardware stores in the country.
PISI said that they monitored low-quality steels being sold in Southern Luzon provinces.
“Very high ‘yung percentage, so kung titingnan mo yung numbers, kaya sumulat kami kay (Trade and Industry undersecretary) Ruth Castelo… puntahan niya ito to check kasi ito ‘yung test-buy namin eh,” PISI president Roberto Cola said.
Cola added that it is the small consumers including those who are having their houses built are more commonly victimized by the suppliers of substandard steel because they have no means to test the quality of the items.
Ronald Magsajo, PISI public relations officer, said they are also reminding the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to also monitor steel products.
The group said this is not the first time they warned DTI on the presence of substandard steel products in the market.
They found out that there were houses damaged by earthquake in the provinces of Cebu and Bohol that were found to be made with substandard steel.
The DTI has already scheduled hardware inspections in Regions IV-A and B.
“Warning din, babala rin doon sa mga nagtitinda ng substandard materials, kaysa mawalan sila tuluyan ng negosyo kasi may penalty sila, pag umulit sila we will recommend to the local government unit na tanggalin yung business permit nila,” DTI undersecretary Ruth Castelo said. (GMA News)
