Philippines: The Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CEMAP) said that it supports the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) order to destroy 12,500t of ‘substandard’ Portland cement worth US$977,000, seized in Ilocos Norte. The DTI, through the Bureau of Philippine Standards, ordered the destruction of the shipment after laboratory testing found that it failed to meet the national standard, specifically on loss on ignition, insoluble residue and 28-day compressive strength. The cement was imported from Vietnam, and consisted of 3700t in 40kg bags and 8800t in ‘jumbo’ bags, stored in a warehouse pending inspection.
CEMAP executive director Renato Baja said “As an earthquake-prone country, we cannot afford to take risks with substandard construction materials. The quality of construction materials remains an indispensable requirement. The destruction of non-compliant cement sends a strong message that there is no place for substandard products in the Philippine market.”