In support to Pampanga Governor Dennis G. Pineda’s call for vigilance in monitoring construction materials which might be non-compliant to Philippine National Standards on quality and safety, the Pampanga provincial and regional offices of the Department of Trade and Industry Region 3 are willing to assist local government units in monitoring and inspecting local hardware stores. The inspection will help in ensuring that construction materials like steel bars, cement and pipes conform with Philippine Standards on thickness, density, markings and tensile strength, which are crucial in the structural integrity of buildings and roads, especially during earthquakes.
The governor made the reminder on July 24, during the Multi-Hazard Disaster Summit held at the Kingsborough Convention Center in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Governor Pineda noted the need for integrated action to prepare the province for earthquakes just like the one which jolted and damaged the town of Porac and nearby areas on April 22. He called on local government units and their local disaster reduction and resiliency teams to coordinate with the DTI to check on possible substandard construction materials sold in the market.
Meanwhile, DTI-3 Regional Director Judith P. Angeles continued to remind hardware store owners to check the compliance of products they are selling to the Philippine National Standards. She stressed the need to check if products have Philippine Standards (PS) mark or if the manufacturers have the appropriate PS license for local products and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark for imported ones.
Under the law, mandatory products such as steel bars and cement products that did not pass the product certification process of the Bureau of Philippine Standards are prohibited from being distributed and sold in the market. Based on RA 7394 and Section 10 of Department Administrative Order 2 series of 2007, aside from the confiscation of uncertified products and closure of establishment, the DTI may also impose fines from Php 150,000 – 300,000 for on manufacturing, distribution and selling of construction materials not complying with Philippine Standards.
The DTI may also recommend closure of establishments selling mandatory products without Philippine Standards (PS) license for locally manufactured products or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) for imported products. A list of PS and ICC licensees is posted on the website of the Bureau of Philippine Standards – www.bps.dti.gov.ph/product standards. Consumers can bring their concerns by calling the Consumer Hotline 1-384 or visit and send a message to DTI’s Facebook platform using the handle @DTI Philippines or @DTI Consumer Care.
