Authorities have confiscated more than P3.5 million worth of substandard steel products since the start of the year as part of an ongoing campaign to eliminate unsafe construction materials from the market.
The FairTrade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB), an agency under the Department of Trade and Industry, seized over 23,000 pieces of non-compliant deformed rebars in Central Luzon and Calabarzon, according to separate reports submitted to the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI).
The seized products were traced to more than 200 firms and were discovered during FTEB inspections in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal.
The bureau noted that many of the confiscated rebars failed to meet minimum mechanical and dimensional standards including tensile strength, elongation and required manufacturer markings. Substandard steel poses significant safety risks because it can deform or break under load, potentially leading to structural failures in homes buildings bridges and other infrastructure, especially during earthquakes strong winds or heavy use.
FTEB is mandated to enforce consumer protection laws, regulate businesses, and ensure compliance with product standards.
FTEB acting director Marimel Porciuncula said the bureau would file cases against Flores Commercial and Wan Chiong Steel, which were found to have sold non-compliant deformed bars based on FTEB testing. Porciuncula’s statement was contained in a letter to PISI president Ronald Magsajo.
Magsajo said steel manufacturers welcomed the bureau’s initiative to crack down on 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,” Magsajo said.
