MANILA -- The Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) has reiterated its call on government to ban obsolete induction furnaces producing substandard steel bars as well as intensifying market monitoring and enforcement campaign.
In a statement Monday, PISI President Roberto Cola said that the group has raised the concern to the Senate on the proliferation of substandard and uncertified steel bars, which are either imported or manufactured from local rolling mills using induction furnaces.
Cola said these substandard steel bars are mostly used by small contractors and homeowners, who are more concerned with price and cost savings than quality and safety.
“The problem of substandard rebars (reinforcing steel bars) is driven by economic gain from the market that is not very conscious of product quality and safety,” he said.
In a hearing in the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship, the PISI head recommended to bar the importation and ban the use of obsolete induction furnaces in the country. These outdated equipment are mostly sourced from China.
He also mentioned that China has declared the use of induction furnaces for producing construction steels as illegal, resulting to elimination of induction furnaces in its market last year.
However, the Chinese government apparently did not restrict the export of these obsolete induction furnaces, which are often sent off to ASEAN member states particularly Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, according to ASEAN Iron and Steel Council (AISC).
AISC noted that induction furnaces are not capable of removing harmful elements in the liquid steel, causing the inconsisent quality of steel products produced.
Moreover, the PISI stressed the need to strengthen the nationwide market monitoring and standards enforcement campaign by Department of Trade and Industry’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau and Bureau of Product Standards.
Cola said the government should also implement stricter inspection, sampling and testing procedure for imported rebars.
On the other hand, PISI refuted the allegations of former senator Nikki Coseteng that the use of quenched and tempered steel is unsafe for construction of buildings.
Cola said this technology is being used in over 190 countries for the past three decades.
PISI will be attending a Senate hearing on Tuesday to tackle the proliferation of substandard and uncertified steel bars, wherein the public would be clearly apprised on the status of the Philippine steel industry. (PNA)
