Manufacturers oppose pre-shipment inspection of imported cement

Local cement manufacturers have opposed plans to conduct pre-shipment inspection of imported cement as substitute to testing upon arrival in the country.

This was pointed out in separate letters by different cement firms addressed to Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez and the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines.

Ramon S. Ang, chairman of Eagle Cement Corp. has opposed the proposed minimum requirement of pre-shipment inspection for cement imports and maintained that all cement coming from abroad must be subjected to rigorous testing upon arrival in the Philippines to ensure consumer safety.

“Eagle Cement Corp. stands against the possible minimum requirement of a pre-shipment inspection as the substitute for testing cement imports upon arrival in the Philippines,” said the letter, which was also signed by Eagle Cement president & CEO Paul Ang, on behalf of the company’s chairman.

Eagle Cement COO Manny Teng said if the government should come out with revised rules and guidelines for the cement industry, such rules must foster a level playing field and ensure high regard for quality and environmental protection.

“We believe that any diminution of the minimum quality standards of cements products, as imposed, would pose a great risk to the entire industry and to the clients it serves – the Filipino people. “In this regard, we respectfully propose that all cement players, whether a manufacturer or a mere trader, should be required to have their imported cement duly tested at the port. We cannot underscore the importance of doing a local test as a crucial safeguard for consumers’ safety and lives,” the executives said.

The officials likewise raised the issue of technical smuggling of cement which they said must be addressed by the Department of Trade and Industry along with other concerned government agencies.

“We sincerely hope that the DTI can effectively move to stop such practices of undervaluation or tax evasion of importers by updating standard rates. The setting of specific benchmarks for cement and freight costs for each country of origin may be another option to consider,” they said.