Industry leaders are pressing the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to urgently enforce updated standards for reinforcing steel and consider phasing out induction furnace (IF)-produced materials, citing continuing concerns over structural safety and earthquake resilience in Philippine infrastructure.
Ronald Magsajo, chairman of the Southeast Asia Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI) and president of the ASEAN Iron and Steel Council (AISC), warned that gaps in enforcement are allowing substandard steel products to remain in circulation, undermining construction quality and public safety.
Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Magsajo said the country already has a revised Philippine National Standard for reinforcing bars aligned with the National Structural Code, but its full implementation remains pending with the DTI.
He stressed that without stronger enforcement, non-seismic compliant steel continues to enter the supply chain.
He argued that induction furnace production—commonly used for lower-cost steel—cannot consistently meet seismic-grade requirements due to limitations in refining processes, raising the risk of impurities and inconsistent material quality.
Magsajo called for the issuance of a formal DTI memorandum circular within the year to enforce the updated standard, along with a gradual move to restrict or ban IF-based steel for construction use. He pointed to stricter approaches abroad, noting that China has fully banned IF steel for construction, while Indonesia and Thailand have imposed limits, and Singapore and Malaysia have tightened procurement rules.
While some local ordinances and technical recommendations already exist in the Philippines, he said enforcement remains uneven, particularly among smaller contractors and self-built structures where engineering oversight is weaker and cost considerations often drive material choices.
The industry official emphasized that the price gap between compliant and non-compliant steel is relatively small compared to the potential economic and human cost of structural failure, especially in a seismic-prone country.
He added that regulatory reform should be paired with education campaigns and stricter monitoring to ensure compliance, stressing that recent regional earthquakes underscore the urgency of aligning Philippine construction standards with global best practices.
