MRTC’s imported steel bars get DTI imprimatur

The local construction industry is expected to see the supply situation for steel bars improve after the Department of Trade and Industry recently cleared for sale and release some 20,000 metric tons of steel imported by Mannage Resources Trading Corp. (MRTC).

In a letter to MRTC president Lawrence Daniel Sy, the trade department said the company’s China-made steel passed all the stringent requirements of Metals Industry Research and Development Center.

“As the verification testing of the required samples showed compliance with the standard, there is no longer any basis for the recall or withdrawal of the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC), hence its reinstatement is in order,” DTI regional director for Region III Judith Angeles and lawyer Marimel Porciuncula, officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Product Standards, said in the letter to the firm.

Having passed all bendability, tension and strength tests, MRTC’s steel was guaranteed safe and reliable, vindicating the company that had previously maintained that its products meet international quality and safety standards.

“Considering that evaluation of results of the verification testing conducted by the Metals Industry Research and Development Center on the deformed steel bars samples of MRTC showed compliance with the requirements of PNS 49:2002, the ground for the recall or withdrawal of subject ICC no longer exists,” the trade officials added.

The company welcomed the reinstatement of its ICC—a prerequisite for product release and sale—as it thanked the DTI for doing its job of ensuring that imported products coming into the Philippines pass the necessary requirements.

“MRTC and DTI share the common goal of providing quality, safe and reliable steel products,” Sy said.

The trading firm imported the deformed reinforcing steel bars from China last year but was unable to bring the shipment out of the Port of Subic despite compliance with all necessary requirements imposed by DTI and as well as the Bureau of Product Standards.

In October last year, the DTI issued an ICC which enabled MRTC to lodge its import entry with the Bureau of Customs and pay taxes and duties for the shipment amounting to P43.3 million.