BERNOS BACKS UPCOMING MEMO ON MANDATORY COMPLIANCE WITH SEISMIC-GRADE STEEL STANDARDS

Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos backed the impending release of an order that would make compliance with updated seismic-grade steel standards mandatory.

“Safety first, especially when we are talking about thousands of lives that could be at stake because of sub-par construction materials. Hindi tayo dapat magtipid o kaya gumamit ng sub-par materials sa mga imprastruktura dahil maraming buhay ang maaaring mawala pag nagkataon,” the lawmaker said.

“Thus, the impending order for mandatory compliance with updated seismic-grade steel standards is necessary.”

The Department of Trade and Industry announced that it expects to issue by August an order to comply with updated standards released by the Bureau of Philippine Standards in May. The said standards so far remain voluntary pending the issuance of the memorandum.

Following the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that hit Mindanao last June, the lawmaker had called for a review of all major infrastructure, including roads, bridges, ports, schools, and other government buildings, to ensure that they are structurally sound and able to withstand disasters.

Bernos also underlined the need to update construction standards in the country, as he urged for the passage of the new Philippine Building Act, which seeks to revise the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines.

He said that the upcoming order is a step in the right direction towards the use of higher-grade construction materials and eventually phasing out induction furnace facilities that continue to manufacture non-seismic grade reinforcing bars.

“We have already seen IF-produced steel being banned in public infrastructure projects across the Southeast Asian region over quality and environmental concerns. Given our vulnerability to earthquakes and other disasters there is no alternative for us but to do the same,” said Bernos.

Indonesia and Thailand have prohibited the use of IF-produced steel in public infrastructure projects, while Singapore and Malaysia have imposed tighter controls on its use.

The solon however also urged the government to provide companies that would be affected by a ban on IF-produced steel to be given proper time and support to transition towards producing higher-grade materials.

“Syempre, hindi rin natin pwedeng basta-basta na lang bitawan ang mga kumpanyang maapektuhan ng ban sa IF-produced steel. Kailangang mabigyan din sila ng suporta at pagkakataon na magbago ng kanilang produkto.”