A consumers’ watchdog is warning the buying public nationwide to be on the watch against possible substandard construction materials that may probably hit the general market soon.
This came after the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) had discovered around seven truckloads containing roughly around 280 metric tons of questionable steel rebar shipment from China that was released from the port of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
This happened despite the withdrawal or recall of its Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), according to UFCC president Rodolfo “RJ” Javellana, Jr.
Javellana said they’re surprised that this unfortunate incident would happen despite their formal representations with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and SBMA on the issue of the alleged substandard steel rebar cargoes from China.
“This incident is very unfortunate. Despite our formal representations to BOC and SBMA questioning the alleged substandard steel rebar shipment at the Subic Port part of it was released just last week,” the UFCC head said.
It’s very sad that no less than BOC Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and SBMA Chairman Martin Dino assured us and even the tri-media that the alleged substandard steel rebar cargoes from China would not be released pending a thorough inter-agency investigation, he complained.
An Import Commodity Clearance No. DTI Reg3-112016-001 dated November 29, 2016 was issued by DTI and BPS in favor of the steel bar importer Mannage Resources Trading Corporation. However, last December 8, 2016, upon review of the documents relative to a post shipment inspection of the same steel rebar shipment from China, the DTI and BPS withdrew and recalled the said ICC to “ensure that the objective of applicable laws, rules, standards on the traceability, quality, and safety are met.”
The roughly 280 metric tons of steel rebar that was released last December 19, 2016 at SBMA port was part and parcel of the 20, 000 metric tons of steel rebar cargo that UFCC was questioning and now billeted at the SBMA.
We were also informed, by Commissioner Faeldon himself, that there is another 20,000 metric tons of the same type of steel cargoes expected soon from China, according to UFCC.
“We gravely fear a scenario involving thousands of deaths of our countrymen nationwide that may possibly figure out in the probable collapse of buildings, houses and other infrastructures that may use these alleged substandard construction materials.
In Metro Manila, we are expecting a mega earthquake that may strike anytime. This horrible fact was confirmed by various scientific experts here and abroad,” he said.
The UFCC head has appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte “to protect the lives and limbs of our consuming public by ordering a thorough investigation on the possible entry of alleged substandard construction materials as we also appeal to our consumers to be more aware by first checking and verifying on the ICC seal of every product they’re buying.” GOOD RIDDANCE/ARLIE CALALO
