Standard monitoring, enforcement of construction materials boosted

CEBU, Philippines - In the time of peak construction activities, the Fair Trade and Enforcement Bureau and the Department of Trade and Industry – Central Visayas (DTI) are intensifying monitoring and enforcement activities on the implementation of the Philippine National Standards (PNS) on construction materials such as Plywood, Steel bars, angle bars and Galvanized Iron (G. I.) sheets.

Last week, a monitoring and enforcement activity was conducted in the province of Bohol where two enforcement teams composed of technical experts from Fair Trade and Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) and DTI – 7 staff were fielded to do the actual enforcement to six business establishments.

The joint enforcement activity resulted in the issuance of Notice of Violation to six BEs in Tagbilaran City and Tubigon, Bohol for violation of markings and labelling requirements under R.A 7394, RA 4109 or the Standards Law and DAO 2, series of 2007.  Total estimated value of goods seized/inventoried is placed at P 258,326.00.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry  (DTI) is reminding consumers to purchase only construction materials that are approved by its Bureau of Philippine Standards.

Only those bearing the Philippine Standard (PS) and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) marks are safe and reliable for construction use, DTI regional director Asteria Caberte said.

To ensure the quality of construction materials, the DTI requires manufacturers and importers of these products to undergo government tests and inspections.

Caberte declared that manufacturers and importers with the PS license or ICC certificate are authorized to distribute and sell with the printed PS mark or the ICC sticker affixed to their products. These required labels convey to the consumers that the products have passed the safety and performance tests and will guide them in distinguishing reliable and safe goods from uncertified ones, which could be inferior or substandard.

Caberte added that consumers should always seek for PS and ICC marks when buying construction materials.

“Aside from checking the required labels, consumers also need to know the proper use of these products to avoid untoward incidents,” she advised.

Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines states that DTI shall conduct monitoring and enforcement activities on the marking and labeling of consumer products. (FREEMAN)