PISI complains over sale of substandard rebars

The Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) has called the attention of the government regarding substandard reinforcing steelbars (rebars) being sold in the market and has offered a hand in preventing its proliferation.

The PISI said results of its recent market test-buy, as well as from the series of previous activities it undertook, have proven that there were really substandard rebars sold in the market.

“This is obviously a burden not only from the legitimate rebar producers and/ or manufacturers, but mostly, the great effect would be to consumers using substandard rebars without their knowledge. The fraudulent sale of substandard rebars compromise the safety of the general public,” PISI said in a statement.

After receiving information about substandard rebars being sold in some areas in Central Luzon, PISI said it conducted a market test-buy to verify the reports.

PISI said 14 hardware stores in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija were included in the random test-buy to check on the rebars being sold in the shops.

Test samples were cut from the purchased rebars and submitted to the Metals Industry Research and Development Center for third party testing.

In its report submitted to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), PISI said 10 samples of underweight and undersized rebars were bought from eight hardware stores.

In addition, the group said one rebar sample with marginal elongation was bought from one hardware store, while one shop sold rebars that are not in PNS 49:2002 and PNS211:2002 mandatory standards.

“Considering that we are now in the construction season and the very high incidence of products standards violation in these provinces, PISI requests that DTI-Consumer Protection Group conduct market monitoring and standards enforcement in Central Luzon,” the PISI said.

In particular, PISI urged the DTI market monitoring teams to conduct actual weighing and measuring of bars to determine conformance to PNS 49:2002 and PNS211:2002, in addition to checking of logos and markings.

The group also asked the agency to file cases against hardware store owners and local manufacturers found to be in violation of DTI product standard laws and unfair trade practices act.

“The PISI would like to offer its services and create a partnership with DTI in order to stop the deceitful selling practice of some hardware stores and prevent the proliferation of substandard reinforcing steelbars in the market,” it said.