Sunday, May 4, 2008 [ philstar.com ]
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) admitted that there are still substandard cement being sold in the country and asked the public not to buy the inferior product.
“Only those BPS-certified cement are reliable and safe for construction use. These products have passed stringent tests and inspections based on relevant standards prior its sale,” Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila said in a statement.
According to Favila the public should only buy cement with the Philippine Standard (PS) or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark to ensure safe and quality construction works this summer season.
DTI regulates critical construction products such as cement not only to protect the interests of businesses but more importantly to safeguard consumers’ welfare.
Through the DTI-BPS Product Certification Scheme, manufacturers and importers are required to have their products tested based on the specific Philippine National Standard (PNS) at the BPS Testing Center or any DTI-accredited or recognized laboratory prior its sale or distribution.
Only those manufacturers and importers whose products comply with the quality and safety requirements of the PNS are issued with the PS License and ICC certificate, respectively.
These manufacturers and importers are then authorized to affix the PS and ICC marks on their products to guide consumers in choosing quality and safe products.
Favila said it is easy to determine quality cement because its bag is properly labeled with the name and type of cement (Portland or Pozzolan).
Cement bags have color bands for consumers to easily distinguish each type of cement, such as red band for Portland cement, green band for Pozzolan Type P, and three yellow stripes band for Pozzolan Type 1P.
Portland cement, as defined in the standard, is a hydraulic cement produced by pulverizing Portland-cement clinker and usually contains calcium sulfate.
Pozzolan cement is defined as a hydraulic cement consisting of an intimate and uniform blend of Portland cement and fine pozzolan.
DTI-BPS conducts intensive enforcement operations nationwide, in support of the regular market monitoring activities of the Regional and Provincial Offices, to check conformance of manufacturers and importers to the requirements of the relevant standard and other related-trade laws.
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