DTI urged to investigate substandard rebars in Samar, Leyte

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has been urged to investigate the alleged use of substandard reinforcing steel bars (rebars), believed to be imported, in the damaged structures affected by the 6.5-magnitude earthquake on July 6, 2017 in Samar and Leyte provinces.

In a letter to DTI Undersecretary Teodoro Pascua, the Philippine Iron and Steel Industry (PISI) said they sent a team to the areas affected by the earthquake and conducted a random test buys on the hardware stores.

Results of the investigation showed that uncertified rebars were found in several damaged structures; rebars with marginal tensile strength were found in random “test buy” operation; and rebar size 9mm diameter that is not in the specifications of PNS 211:2002, and PNS 49:2002 mandatory standards are being sold in the market.

In the interest of the public, PISI strongly recommended that DTI-CPG immediately launch a regular market monitoring standards enforcement in Leyte and Samar as the rebuilding activities are now starting in these earthquake-affected areas.

PISI also noted that there still ongoing reconstruction efforts in these provinces, which also suffered from Typhoon Yolanda in November, 2013.

PISI President Roberto M. Cola has offered its assistance to the DTI on ensuring standards and safety of rebars.

PISI stressed that the integrity of buildings and structures depend on three factors: design, design execution, and construction materials quality.

For the design, the group said this should follow the provisions of the National Structural Code of the Philippines.

Contractor and/or builder must follow the design of the structural or civil engineer as approved by the city or municipal building officials in the execution of the design.

To ensure quality of construction materials, PISI said the materials used must comply with the Philippine National Standards specifications.

According to PISI, the uncertified rebars found in the damaged structures were most likely imported and did not follow the Import Commodity Clearance procedures of the DTI.

“These rebars passed through the Bureau of Customs, most likely Cebu port, without the benefit of being inspected and tested,” PISI said in the letter dated July 28, 2017.

Considering that these earthquakedamaged areas will now start rebuilding, it is necessary to remove the dangerous rebars from the market. This can be done through a massive market monitoring and standards enforcement from DTI.

Further, PISI urged both DTI and BOC to come up with a campaign to prevent additional or new batches of uncertified imported rebars to slip in from the ports of entry.