Public warned against buying steel products made by suspended firm

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) warned consumers against buying products made by Pampanga-based Wan Chiong Steel Corp., which was suspended for making substandard steel.

“To ensure the safety of consumers and to prevent the release of substandard products to the market, DTI orders hardware stores to pull out stocks and stop selling steel bars produced by Wan Chiong Steel Corp. while suspension order is not yet lifted,” DTI said in a statement on its website.

The DTI said the company was ordered in January to immediately shut down its rerolling plant in Pampanga for producing substandard deformed steel bars and rerolls.

Bundles of steel bars were sealed by the DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (DTI-FTEB) and DTI Regional Office III during the said enforcement operation.

The Environmental Management Bureau of Pampanga also issued a notice of violation to the company for alleged noncompliance to environmental laws.

Smoke and dust emitted by the plant’s furnace was very thick which, the DTI said, was a “clear violation” of the the Philippine Clean Air Act.

While the DTI-FTEB is looking into the revocation of the steel plant’s Philippine Standard license if they will fail to comply with the agency’s requirements, Wan Chiong was advised to appeal to the Bureau and do necessary corrective actions, the DTI said. —ROY STEPHEN C. CANIVEL