Duterte orders hollow blocks’ certification

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the inclusion of hollow blocks in the list of products requiring certification.

In a statement, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the Cabinet deliberated on the impact of the recent series of earthquakes and the measures moving forward.

Lopez said among the concerns raised by President Duterte during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday night was the quality of hollow blocks, noting that many small hollow block makers may not follow standard processes and specifications needed in production.

He said the President mandated the inclusion of hollow blocks in the list of products with mandatory certification, as these are not yet included in the certification schemes implemented by the DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards.

President Duterte also ordered all local government units and contractors to ensure that all construction materials being used in any construction activity must pass quality standards.

If they are found to be using inferior quality construction materials and not adhering to the specifications in the Building Code as well as in its structural design, their licenses as contractors may be revoked.

Likewise, contractors of government projects that use uncertified materials will not be paid and their contracts will be terminated.

“The quality of any building structure depends not only on the product standards, but also on the quality of the construction job, particularly on adherence to approved structural design and the Building Code, required steel density, cement mixtures, among others,” Lopez said.

He also said the DTI is ensuring the standard compliance of products under the mandatory certification list such as cement, steel, nails and glass. However, the inclusion of glass is currently under a court injunction.