The Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) and Eagle Cement Corp. expressed their full support and gratitude to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) led by Secretary Cristina Roque for initiating a motu proprio preliminary safeguard measures investigation on cement imports from various countries.
They said this critical step underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring fair competition and protecting the local cement industry from undue harm caused by excessive imports.
CeMAP submitted its position paper to the DTI on Nov. 12, 2024, while Eagle Cement followed with its official letter of support shortly thereafter.
Reinforcing this collective backing, the Federation of Philippine Industries also expressed its strong support for the motu proprio action, recognizing the urgent need to safeguard the domestic cement sector.
Data from the Bureau of Customs show that cement imports reached 6.2 million tons from January to October 2024, or 5 percent higher than last year’s, with October alone registering a record 870,000 tons.
The majority of imports (94 percent) came from Vietnam, with smaller portions from Japan (5 percent) and Indonesia (1 percent).
Despite the Philippine cement industry’s ample capacity of 50 million tons annually—sufficient to meet local demand estimated at 34 million tons—the influx of imported cement has caused substantial harm to domestic manufacturers.
The implementation of safeguard measures is vital to mitigating these adverse impacts and preserving the competitiveness of local producers.
The cement industry, together with its stakeholders, remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting government efforts to foster fair trade practices, promote local manufacturing in a sustainable manner, create jobs and strengthen the national economy.
