Philippines: Manufacturers have called for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to increase the number of testing facilities to process imports of cement and steel.

Jesus L Arranza, chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), and Roberto Cola, president of the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute, made their plea as the DTI Consumer and Welfare Protection Group is set to release the revised department administrative orders (DAO) on the inspection and monitoring of standards of imported steel and cement, according to the Manila Bulletin newspaper. Cola said that testing of products under mandatory standards, including steel and cement, is only conducted by the Metals Industry Research Development Center of the Department of Science and Technology. Both industry representatives have called for the DTI to accredit more testing agencies.

The proposed revised DAO is seeking to implement a pre-shipment certification system, in which cement and steel products have to be certified that they met the safety and quality standards at the port of entry. The shipment will also undergo post-shipment inspection upon arrival.