Philippine Cement Importers Association executive director Dani Enriquez has reiterated his group's stand in favor of pre-shipment testing of imports, saying that “good quality products mean good business.”
The PCIA said that no industry group can claim monopoly when it comes to concerns about consumer welfare and protection, which should be foremost for all industries whether or not their products are included in the Department of Trade and Industry list under mandatory conformance certification.
Reacting to statements made by certain local cement manufacturers that “pre-shipment testing is a diminution of the minimum requirements of the standards conformity of cement thereby prejudicial to consumer’s safety and lives”, Enriquez noted that “they may have misunderstood the content of the new DAO presented by DTI-BPS last 08 Aug. 8, 2017. It proposes processing of conformance certification using Scheme 5 of PNS/ISO17067 consistent with the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade administered by the World Trade Organization."
The scheme offers an option for importers to apply for either a PS License or a Batch Certificate (Import Commodity Clearance) through a Pre-shipment Test Report or Product sampling upon arrival.
“Actually, what the PCIA is proposing is to have a pre-shipment test on top of the PS License,” added Enriquez.
“I don’t see the diminution there when we, in fact, are proposing to add another testing process or step in the already WTO- and ISO-compliant DTI-proposed Certification Procedures. In addition, we are also proposing that there be a 10 percent surety bond for all these cement importations to be released only once they passed the DTI product verification test,” Enriquez said.
“DTI has been very vigilant in conducting monitoring and enforcement against sub-standard products, particularly cement,” said Enriquez.
“Noticeably, while too much focus on alleged violations is being hyped in the media, there are no consumer complaints against imported cement. On the other hand, as per records, DTI has filed complaints and has decided on several cases against locally manufactured cement for violation of product standardsa nd other DTI rules,” he added.
“Regarding the alleged technical smuggling of cement, I still have to see documents that the said illegal activity is really happening. If we can prove it, I shall be glad to sign the complaint-affidavits,” Enriquez said.
“In the meantime, as what DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez has pronounced, let us focus more on how the cement industry can help in the Build, Build, Build program of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” he added.
PCIA, in a meeting with Undersecretary Ted Pascua, reiterated its proposal to assist the DTI in whatever way it can in the campaign against non-conforming cement products, subject to the approval of the DTI Secretary.
PCIA, Enriquez said, has already activated its monitoring teams to police its own ranks and provide the DTI with information necessary in filing the charges against violators of DTI rules and regulations governing cement products.