Substandard steel bars in the market concerns PISI

The Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) was concerned after discovering substandard steel bars sold in the market.

PISI found another batch of steel bars that are either unmarked or without registered logos in central and northern Luzon.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Needless to say, we are troubled by this occurrence (and) persistent menace,” PISI President Ronald Magsajo said.

The institute’s monitoring team bought the substandard steel bars from Uniking Commercial in La Union and Krizwood Construction Supply in Pampanga last month.

Recent tests conducted on samples of steel products manufactured by a Davao manufacturer showed non-compliance with safety standards.

ADVERTISEMENT

Metals Industry Research and Development Center said the company’s 10mm rebars passed tests, but the 12mm rebars were deficient in terms of mass variation.

“There is reason to believe that similar unmarked and untraceable bars have found their way across other regions,” Magsajo, adding the possibility of smuggling.

“We cannot overemphasize the dangers posed to lives and property by having noncompliant, untraceable bars in the market,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Magsajo added that this “potentially destructive practice” will also impact the government’s “Buy Local” campaign.

Also read: Quarrying suspension in Albay will affect gov’t infra projects – Escudero

Substandard steel bars in the market concerns PISI

In October, PISI also found substandard rebars in hardware stores in Central Luzon that were allegedly manufactured by Real Steel Corp. and Metrodragon Steel.

In June, authorities also discovered Real Steel and Philippine Koktai Metal were selling undersized rebars.

The two firms were selling rebars that failed to meet mass variation standards, bending, lug height and diameter, and tensile and yield strength.

Magsajo admitted the market for construction materials, including steel products, decreased this year. The community quarantines the government imposed nationwide infrastructure activity in both the public and private sectors.

PISI has been strengthening its campaign against substandard steel products as the construction sector has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

PSI also urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to step up its efforts in fighting against the manufacture and sale of substandard products in the country.