The government has confiscated more than P3.5 million worth of substandard steel products since the start of the year, tightening its crackdown on unsafe construction materials amid rising infrastructure activity and persistent compliance violations.
In separate reports submitted to the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI), the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) said it had seized over 23,000 pieces of deformed rebars across Central Luzon and Calabarzon. The products—sold by more than 200 firms—were found during sweeping inspections in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal.
FTEB examiners flagged the rebars for failing to meet minimum mechanical and dimensional standards, including tensile strength, elongation, and proper manufacturer markings. These defects render steel vulnerable to cracking or sudden breakage under stress, raising the risk of catastrophic structural failure in homes, high-rises, bridges and other public infrastructure—particularly during earthquakes, strong winds or heavy loads.
The FTEB, an enforcement arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, is tasked with policing business practices and ensuring products sold nationwide comply with mandatory quality standards.
In a letter to PISI president Ronald Magsajo, FTEB acting director Marimel Porciuncula said the bureau would file cases against Flores Commercial and Wan Chiong Steel, after tests confirmed they had sold non-compliant deformed bars.
Magsajo said the industry welcomed the stepped-up enforcement, noting that legitimate manufacturers are “encouraged” by the government’s efforts to purge the market of low-quality materials that undercut both safety and fair competition.
“We continue to support the government’s drive to ensure public safety by removing substandard steel from the market and penalize retailers and manufacturers found to be non-compliant with Fair Trade Laws,” he said.
