CeMAP calls DTI attention over cement standards issue

All is not well among players in the cement industry with Cement Manufacturers of the Philippines (CeMAP) has called the attention of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to look into a potential standards compliance issue against Philcement Corporation.In a letter to DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo, CeMAP Executive Director Cirilo Pestaño raised the “possible non-compliance of Philcement Corporation’s Union V Super Strength 40 Type 1P cement to Philippine National Standards (PNS) and Department Administrative Order (DAO) 17-06, or the new rules covering cement in the country.”CeMAP said hat Philcement Corporation is one of the companies engaged in cement importation, but alleged that the packaging on one of its products being sold in Pampanga carries the markings “Manufactured by Philcement Corporation” and “Product of the Philippines.”“Was this product actually manufactured in the Philippines?” Pestano asked in his letter to Castelo, head of the DTI’s Consumer Protection Group. In its response to Pestano, DTI Director Neil Catajay of the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) said it will conduct proper verification on Philcement’s PS License Number, Batch Identification Number and Manufacturing Date so appropriate actions can be undertaken accordingly. Catajay also thanked CeMAP’s initiative in helping DTI in monitoring the market for possible violations.

The CeMAP letter was dated January 28, 2020 yet but was only released today, Sept. 29, as the local cement and steel industries intensified its campaign on cement standards in the country.