On the steel bars controversies

I was quoted in a lengthy write up in the Philippine STAR today (Nov. 8, by Rainier Allan Ronda) supposedly in response to an article that came out in the Inquirer last Oct 31 by Karl Ocampo, “DENR lowers boom on 5 steel mills.” I do not know the source of the information. For the record: 1. Nobody interviewed me about induction and electric arc furnaces as stated in the article. I AM NOT THE SPOKESPERSON OF PISIA.

Each factory would be in the best position to evaluate the quality of the furnaces they choose to use. The levels of pollution depend on the kind of anti-pollution equipment they installed, if any.

2. I never said one was better than the other. As far as I know, quality of steel bars produced does not depend on the type of furnace used. And induction furnaces are cheaper to operate.

3. I resent anyone using my name to make claims.

4. The press release did not come from me.

5. The issue I am raising and the questions I’ve been asking are concerning steel rebars, such as:

• Philippine made quench tempered rebars do not have the grade embossed on the bar. Instead colors are painted at the ends of the bars to indicate grade. That opens the floodgates to fraud and it deceives the purchasing public /consumers. Even engineers, developers, contractors are not aware of the issues raised!

Steel manufacturers refuse up to now to state in writing and publicly declare that all the Grade 60 steel bars they manufacture are indeed really Grade 60 inside and out.

• Philippine steel manufacturers have not shown test results of the last 10 years that their qt/tmt rebars are fit for high rises and sensitive structures that are already standing.

• Steel manufacturers have kept secret the complete replacement of micro alloy rebars w/ qt rebars since more than 10 yrs ago. Other issues raised in the paper of Engr Emilio Morales “clear and present danger ... the use of qt or tmt rebars in Seismic Zone 4”. These issues are legitimate and they have not been answered.

The DTI has not shown any test results for welding, threading, bending, galvanizing and cyclic loading in Seismic Zone 4 to assuage fears of the public. Instead the DTI and BPS have simply taken the position claimed by steel companies which runs against their mandate to look into complaints from the public which could result in loss of investment and lives!!

The use of the issue of induction vs electric arc furnace is a smokescreen to deviate from the main issues I have raised which I mentioned above. Those issues I raised concern public safety, credibility of our economy and government and safeguarding of the investment of buyers of high-rise building units and building owners.

I hope all concerned stick to these critical issues that could have devastating effects unless addressed. – NIKKI COSETENG