DTI urged to test quality of China steel imports

The Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (Pisi) has urged the Department of Trade and Industry to conduct new tests to ensure the quality of some P95-million worth of steel bars shipped from China, with the group claiming that these imports were tested “in haste and utmost secrecy” by a trade bureau in Subic.

The proposed new sampling and testing in the presence of industry representatives was aimed at protecting the public against dangerous, substandard steel products, Pisi said in a statement.

In its letter to Trade Secretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr., Pisi claimed that of the 500,000 bars that were imported, only three samples were taken and tested without the usual and required presence of customs and Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) officials. In contrast, locally produced steel of the same volume must have around 250 samples for testing.

Pisi president Roberto Cola cited the need to ensure the quality of these imported steel bars as the group earlier found instances wherein samples were replaced prior to testing.

Cola also noted that the buildings and houses that collapsed during the October 2013 earthquake in Cebu and Bohol were found to have substandard imported steel bars without the required logo, a mark that would identify the manufacturer.

Pisi had already raised the flag over this shipment and its importer, over alleged possible smuggling.

According to Pisi, the present shipment was brought in by Mannage Resources Trading Corp. which was put up only last year to engage in the food business.

It had a capital of only P400,000 while the imported reinforcing steel bars had an estimated market value of P95 million.

Pisi further disclosed that the  Subic customs bureau office had already issued an alert order against this batch of imports for lack of permit.