Group eyes tie-up with DTI in monitoring iron, steel industry

Steel bars being sold at a hardware. (Photo courtesy: bizboleh.com via PNA)

MANILA — The Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) wants to partner with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the monitoring of the iron and steel industry in the country.

This after PISI received complaints and reports that substandard reinforcing steel (rebars) are being sold in the domestic market.

To verify the reports, the industry group conducted market test-buys in some areas in Central Luzon, particularly in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga.

In Bulacan and Nueva Ecija where PISI conducted test-buy activities, three out of seven hardware stores were found selling underweight rebars.

Of the seven hardware stores the group visited in Pampanga, four were found to be selling underweight rebars while another store sold a rebar that failed in length when measured.

PISI also reported that one hardware store sold rebar that is not compliant with the Philippine National Standard (PNS) — particularly PNS 211:2002 and PNS 49:2002 on the mandatory standards of rebar.

“Based from the recent market test-buy and even from the series of previous activities done by PISI, it was proven that there were really substandard rebars sold in the market,” PISI said in its report to DTI Consumer Protection Group.

It stressed that the fraudulent selling of substandard rebars compromises the safety of the public and also a burden to legitimate rebar manufacturers.

“The PISI would like to offer its services and create a partnership with DTI in order to stop the deceitful selling practice of some hardware stores and prevent the proliferation of substandard reinforcing steel bars in the market,” the industry group added.

PISI recommends that the DTI, aside from checking the logos and markings of steel products, shall conduct actual weighing and measuring of steel bars.

It also urged the DTI to file cases against store owners and manufacturers found violating the PNS and practices unfair trade.