Coca-Cola PH, Partners Collect more than 1,000 Kgs of Waste in Coastal Cleanup in Tanza, Cavite

Coca-Cola Philippines President Tony del Rosario joined hundreds of volunteers in the coastal cleanup at Julugan Fish Terminal in Tanza, Cavite

MANILA, Philippines — Coca-Cola Philippines, together with Plastic Bank Philippines and Lighthouse Legacy Foundation, led over 200 volunteers to collect debris and marine waste at Julugan Fish Terminal in Tanza, Cavite, on September 16, as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC).

Plastic Bank Philippines, ICC Philippines, Lighthouse Legacy Foundation, and the Don Bosco School of Theology were some of the organizations that joined Coca-Cola Philippines in collecting debris and marine waste during the coastal cleanup

Employees from the Coca-Cola Philippines system, together with waste collection members of its Ecosystem Impact Program with Plastic Bank Philippines and volunteers from ICC Philippines, Lighthouse Legacy Foundation, the Local Government of Tanza, Philippine Coast Guard Cavite Chapter, and Don Bosco School of Theology collected more than 1,000 kgs of waste to help address coastal waste issues in the area.

Zed Avecilla, President of Lighthouse Legacy Foundation, commended Coca-Cola Philippines for its longstanding commitment to responsible waste management, highlighting the company's "World Without Waste" strategy that was initiated in 2018, well before the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law was enacted in the country.

Avecilla also emphasized the impact of raising awareness on the importance of managing waste to prevent them from getting into Philippine waters- through events like ICC. “What we are achieving through these events is the creation of awareness on responsible waste management and educating Filipinos about the EPR Law. In a way, we are appealing to their emotions to help the environment,” he said.

The ICC is renowned as the world's largest volunteer effort for ocean sanitation, with The Coca-Cola Company serving as a founding member of the Trash Free Seas Alliance since 1995. In partnership with its local bottling partners, the company is engaging employees, consumers, and communities in cleanups, providing resources, grants, and in-kind donations to help remove trash from beaches and waterways.

In the Philippines, Coca-Cola is doing its part to prevent marine debris through community-based initiatives like the Ecosystem Impact Program with Plastic Bank. This initiative helps build collection and recycling systems in communities to prevent plastic bottles from ending up in places where they should not be, while at the same time, empowering workers in the solid waste management sector.

Dhang Tecson, Global Director for Country Operations of Plastic Bank, thanked Coca-Cola Philippines for its annual coastal cleanup activity as well as the company’s invaluable contribution to advancing the circular economy of plastics in the Philippines. “Maganda ‘yung ginagawa ng Coca-Cola kasi hindi lang sa ating mga bahay nasisimulan ‘yung action, kundi pati sa ating komunidad (What Coca-Cola is doing is great because change doesn't just start in our homes but also in our community),” Tecson said.

Coca-Cola bottles can have many lives

Coca-Cola Philippines President Tony del Rosario emphasized that coastal cleanup activity is part of the company’s wider commitment to help tackle plastic waste. “No one wants to see empty packaging end up where it doesn’t belong. Our World Without Waste program is an ambitious global sustainable packaging strategy that aims to help drive a circular economy for our packaging in the Philippines. Together with our partners, we are making progress with still much more to do,” he said.

Coca-Cola Philippines President Tony del Rosario reaffirms the company’s commitment to help address the plastic waste problem through the World Without Waste global sustainable strategy and the May Ikabobote Pa consumer engagement initiative

The Coca-Cola Company’s World Without Waste global sustainable packaging strategy aims to make 100% of its packaging recyclable globally by 2025, use at least 50% recycled plastic in its packaging by 2030, help collect the equivalent of every can and bottle it sells by 2030, and bring people together to support a healthy, debris-free environment.

In line with this, Coca-Cola Philippines recently introduced new bottles made from 100% recycled PET plastic (rPET) for Coca-Cola Original (190ml and 390ml) and Wilkins Pure (500ml), in addition to Sprite 500ml introduced in 2019. The company also launched "May Ikabobote Pa" a consumer engagement initiative aimed at educating people about the actions they can take around recycling. Currently, Coca-Cola Philippines is expanding its network of over 2,800 recycling drop-off points across the country to make it easier for consumers to return their empty bottles.

DTI Seizes Almost P.5M Uncertified Products in Manila; Affirms Stable BNPC Prices and Supply

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB), clutches Php418,578.00 worth of uncertified products; and verified the compliance of retail firms to the latest DTI Suggested Retail Price (SRP) bulletin in its simultaneous technical regulation enforcement and price and supply monitoring in Manila, on 16 December 2022.

Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo led the DTI monitoring and enforcement teams in inspecting retail firms within Manila.

The heightened enforcement resulted in the confiscation of 650 pieces of uncertified products including 67 pieces of self-ballasted LED bulbs; 144 pieces of lavatories and water closets; and 39 pieces of electric fans, electric rice cookers, electric food mixers, and induction cookers.

“The DTI’s intensified enforcement operation is to ensure that household appliances and other consumer products in the market have undergone and met safety standards,” Usec. Atty. Castelo said.

Usec. Atty. Castelo also reiterated that the DTI’s enforcement initiative is not to restrict business transactions. Instead, it safeguards product quality that guarantees market competitiveness and consumer safety.

All nine (9) firms inspected were issued a Notice of Violation. Thus, as part of the due process, the representative of the stores was given 48 hours to provide an explanation related to the findings of noncompliance.

Last 07 December 2022, DTI also conducted a similar activity that seized 609 pieces of uncertified products worth Php90, 569.00. Such has caused the issuance of NOVs to eight (8) retail firms for selling uncertified electric kettles, electric food mixers, electric fans, electric grills, electric cookers, electric food processors, electric rice cookers, electric juicers, and self-ballasted LED lamps.

From January to November 2022, FTEB has already confiscated 219,693 pieces of uncertified products worth Php67,490,780.90

The nationwide campaign of DTI against uncertified items in the market underscores the enforcement of DTI technical regulations mandating compliance with Philippine Standard Certification Mark Schemes, particularly Department Administrative Order No. 02, Series of 2007.

To protect consumers or potential buyers of electrical and electronic products; mechanical or building and construction materials; and chemical and other consumer products and systems, DTI- Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) regulates 87 products and systems through implementing Mandatory Product Certification Schemes: the Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and/or Safety Certification Mark Licensing Scheme and the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Certification Scheme.

Meanwhile, Usec. Atty. Castelo also headed the price monitoring teams in inspecting two (2) supermarkets in Manila to check their compliance with the latest SRP bulletin, released last 12 August 2022.

Aside from being compliant with the latest SRP bulletin, Usec. Atty. Castelo affirmed that both of the monitored supermarkets follow the Noche Buena Price Guide. Moreover, all of the Shelf Keeping Units (SKUs) including Noche Buena items have appropriate price tags.

Furthermore, Usec. Atty. Castelo also expressed that based on their discussion with retail chains, owners, and operators, the DTI is certain that the supply and prices of Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities (BNPCs) including Noche Buena Products will continue to remain stable.

The DTI urges consumers to report retailers, distributors, and manufacturers that sell basic necessities above their SRPs or uncertified items, through the Consumer Care Hotline at DTI (1-384) or consumercare@dti.gov.ph.

DTI Releases List of Certified Christmas Lights, Reminds Consumers to Buy Only those with PS mark or ICC Sticker

As Christmas day comes closer, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), reminds consumers to only purchase Christmas lights that bear the Philippine Standard (PS) mark or the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker for guaranteed product safety and quality.

Christmas lights are one of the 111 products currently under the DTI-BPS list of products under mandatory certification (complete list at www.bps.dti.gov.ph). To serve as guide for consumers, the DTI-BPS has released the list of DTI-certified Christmas lights as of 09 November 2022. 

1. List of Valid PS Certification Mark License Issued for Christmas Lights https://tinyurl.com/PSChristmasLights2022   
2. List of ICC Certificates and Stickers Issued for Christmas Lights https://tinyurl.com/ICCChristmasLights2022  
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On the most recent episode of Konsyumer At Iba Pa (KATBP) in Super Radyo DZBB last 12 November 2022, BPS Director Neil Catajay underscored that the first thing consumers must look for when buying Christmas lights is the certification mark, either the PS mark or ICC sticker, as proof that the products have undergone the BPS certification process. 

 

BPS Director Neil Catajay with Joel Reyes Zobel on KATBP at GTV, DZBB 594 kHz Super Radyo, and DZBB FB Livestream 

 

BPS-SCD OIC Asst. Chief Engr. Leah Ann Arella joined Director Catajay on KATBP episode on safety of Christmas lights

BPS Standards Conformity Division’s OIC-Asst. Chief Engr. Leah Ann Arella explained the difference between the PS mark and the ICC sticker. She said that the PS License and the authority to use the PS mark are granted to manufacturers after successfully complying with the factory audit and product testing. Meanwhile, the ICC and the corresponding ICC stickers are issued to importers on a per shipment per Bill of Lading/Airway Bill basis after product inspection and testing.  

 

Engr. Arella also mentioned that consumers may verify the authenticity of the ICC stickers they may find on Christmas lights packaging through the ICC Sticker Verification App that may be downloaded via Google Play Store or Apple App Store.  

 

Further, the DTI-BPS gives the following additional safety reminders to consumers:  

1. For those who will be reusing Christmas lights from last year, carefully inspect the plug and cord of the lighting set for brittle and dented parts as the insulation material made of PVC plastic deteriorates over time.  
2. Dispose old and damaged Christmas lights.  
3. If stored Christmas lights can still be used but have burnt out bulbs, replace the burnt bulbs before using.  
4. Check the manufacturer’s instruction regarding the advisable number of connected sets of Christmas lights. If possible, plug each Christmas lights set directly to the electrical outlet.  
5. Do not overload electrical outlets. Too many plugs in one outlet may overheat the outlet and may start fire.  
6. Do not leave Christmas lights turned on overnight.  
7. Do not use nails, thumb tacks, and wire staples when hanging Christmas lights as these may damage its parts and create fire hazards. Use light hangers instead which are available in hardware and home stores.  
8. Read carefully the instructions on the packaging and/or the manuals of Christmas lights provided by the manufacturer. 
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Director Catajay also shared that the BPS is already coordinating with the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for possible adoption of their standards for Christmas lanterns or “parol”. He highlighted that the aim is not to regulate the “parol” products in the country but to help local manufacturers produce globally-competitive products and facilitate export of Filipino-made lanterns to international markets. 

 

The DTI-BPS is the National Standards Body authorized to promulgate Philippine National Standards (PNS). PNS are voluntary in nature and may be used as reference by any interested parties. The conformance to PNS or parts thereof becomes mandatory only when the same is used as reference in Technical Regulations issued by regulatory authorities such as the DTI.  

 

For more updates and information on standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures (STRACAP), please visit the BPS website (www.bps.dti.gov.ph). Emails and messages may also be sent to bps@dti.gov.ph or through the official BPS Facebook page (facebook.com/PHstandards). 

SB Corporation, Cebu People’s Cooperative Strengthen Partnership

The Small Business Corporation (SB Corporation) expressed continued support to the Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CPMPC) as its Credit Delivery Partner (CDP) for the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) Program. CPMPC reported a total P2.56 million loans released to 124 microenterprise beneficiaries in just three months (November 2019 to January 2020). SB Corporation through CPMPC aims to generate P2 million P3 loan portfolio per month for each of the cooperative’s 16 satellite offices.

Present during the update meeting are (seated L-R) SB Corporation South Luzon Group Head Ronald Inciong, Financing Sector Head Ma. Lourdes Baula, SB Corporation President and CEO Ma. Luna Cacanando, CPMPC CEO Macario Quevedo, CPMPC COO Brian Yap, SB Corporation MIS Department Manager Marc Quincy Talagtag and SB Corporation Corporate Support Sector Head Rowena Betia (Standing L-R) SB Corporation Information Technology Group Head Evelyn Felias, CPMPC Financial Officer Eric Abistado, Training Dept Manager Jacob Layan, Credit Dept Manager Melanie Baclayon, Manila Branch Operator Ulysses Mar Josef, and Executive Secretary Nelson Rabaja.

Under the P3 Program, a micro enterprise can borrow between P5,000 up to P200,000 depending on its business need and repayment capacity with no collateral requirement with an effective interest rate of not more than 2.5% per month (based on diminishing balance). The P3 Program serves as an alternative to the P30 billion “5-6” money lending industry that charges 20% interest rate to microenterprises.

As of January 2020 the P3 program has extended a total of P5.1 billion in loans to 124,374 micro enterprises and has partnered with 418 partner financial institutions nationwide.

DTI Eyes Market Expansion in Middle East

In an effort to diversify markets for PH exporters, the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB), in coordination with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Middle East and Africa, is conducting an Outbound Business Matching Mission (OBMM) to the Middle East on February 12-24, 2020. The OBMM is in conjunction with Gulfood 2020 in Dubai World Trade Centre.

"We hope that through this OBMM, the Philippines will be able to explore business environment and possible prospects in the Middle East markets and sustain networking and follow-up activities in the UAE as part of the mission legs last 2019,” DTI-Trade Promotions Group (TPG) Undersecretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman said.

The OBMM also targets to develop and expand relationships with business, government, and multiplier organizations in Middle East countries and enhance local understanding of the current economic conditions and business opportunities.

The mission is also anchored on EMB’s aspiration to engage with high-level promotion, targeted market intelligence and business matching, and focused training and capacity building for both large companies and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which also echoes the thrust of the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Act (PHEDP) and the Expo 2020 Dubai campaign.

Moreover, this project supports the Export Promotion for PH Food Sector which endeavors to bring Philippine cuisine, ingredients, and beverages overseas. The program’s strategy will build on Strategy No. 3 of PEDP 2018-2022 which is to design comprehensive packages of support that will be able to mainstream the Philippine food, food ingredients, and beverages sectors and encourage innovations on major Philippine commodities and niche products.

Led by Usec. Macatoman, the business delegation is composed of representatives from 11 Philippine business companies, namely: Fitrite, Inc; Fruits of Life, Inc; HDR Foods Corporation; Jocker’s Food Industries; Magic Melt Food, Inc; Marigold Manufacturing Corp; Marikina Food Corp; Pinesvill Trading FZE LTE; Pixcel Transglobal; Sagrex Food, and LBC. Also included in the delegation are Philippine Commercial Attaché for the Middle East and Africa Charmaine Mignon S. Yalong, DTI-EMB’s Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist Myrtle Faye L. Solina, and Trade and Industry Development Specialist Al-Mahdi I. Jul-Ahmad.

The featured products for this mission are food items, sauces, spices, mixes, and condiments as well as cargo and logistics for the services.

Macatoman reiterated the need for more Philippine brands to enter the Middle East markets to cater the demand of Filipinos living there, and to a larger extent, to penetrate the mainstream market. This mission also endeavors to deliberately promote Philippine bananas in the Middle East market, among others.

The delegation is set to have business matching events, market scanning, store visits, meetings with government authorities and a visit to Gulfood 2020.

“As part of the OBMM’s activities, the PH exporters will be engaged in B2B meetings with prospective buyers which will give them knowledge of the market requirements in terms of volume, quality, and price. It will bolster and increase exports of food and non-food products and services to GCC countries,” DTI-EMB Director Senen M. Perlada said.

Gulfood is the world's largest annual food, beverage, and hospitality exhibition which attracts F&B professionals from all over the world to Dubai - a hub for international trade and commerce. It is also celebrating its 24th edition this year.

In January - November 2019, the Philippines exported USD 720.1M worth of goods to the Middle East and imported USD 3,298.8M of goods. Among the top products exported by the country were bananas, including plantains, fresh or dried (USD 211.9M), Input or output units, whether or not containing storage units in the same housing (USD 64.0M), other bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and other baker's wares, whether or not containing cocoa (USD 41.3M), pineapples, fresh or dried (USD 38.1M), and video projectors (USD 22.1M).

On the other hand, the country’s top imported products from the Middle East in the same period were petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude (USD 2,112.6M), light petroleum oils and preparations thereof (USD 225.9M), propane, liquified (USD 126.6M), butanes, liquified (USD 120.9M), and aeroplanes and other aircraft, of an unladen weight not exceeding 2,000 kg.

To know more about of the Philippine Delegation, you may scan the QR Code below.

You can visit their Facebook Page: fb.com/dti.export to stay updated on DTI EMB’s new and upcoming events and programs.

OTOP All Set for 2020

The One Town, One Product Program (OTOP) Next Gen kicked off the year assembling all its regional and provincial focal persons through the “OTOP Visions 2020: Trade Promotions Officers’ Evaluation and Planning Session”, last February 5 and 6, 2020 at the Hotel Jen Manila.

The session aimed to assess the group’s performance, to earn from the best practices of each region, and to set the direction of the program for 2020. It was attended by DTI Regional and Assistant Regional Directors and all the Trade Promotions Officers who have played crucial roles in the continued success of the OTOP program.

“We hope to face 2020 with a clear and unified vision of OTOP. As we set out to elevate our level and quality of MSME support, may we grow all the more resilient. Let us remember why we are doing this and who we are doing this for – for MSMEs and for the continued development of our country”, OTOP Program Manager Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga stated during the opening of the OTOP Visions 2020.

The two-day conference also included learning sessions for participants given by various resource persons from the Department and other agencies. In line with rising global trends, the prospective e-commerce platforms are also being explored by the program.

The program surpassed its targets for 2019, successfully providing 10, 819 counts of MSME assistance, 6,771 counts of product development services, and enabling OTOPreneurs to generate Php 1.407 billion in sales.

To date, the program has already established 37 OTOP Philippines Hubs (OTOP.Ph), OTOP’s retail and marketing arm, nationwide with many more underway.

The Program also engaged with prospective foreign markets during a mission to Europe, where it participated in the ANUGA Fair in Cologne, Germany. There, it showcased the rich flavors of the Philippines on the world stage, enticing potential buyers and partners from all over.

The session only marked the beginning of OTOP’s continuous thrust to promote inclusive economic growth and increase the competitiveness of local MSMEs. Much can be expected from the program this year as it seeks to further expand its pool of new enrollees and level up the package of services it offers to OTOPreneurs.

Bamboo Industry Gets Boost from Government and Private Sector

QUEZON CITY - Government and private sector stakeholders converge to support the bamboo industry during the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council meeting (PBDIC) on 6 February.

As Chair of the Bamboo industry council, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez reported that various agencies like the Departments of Agriculture, Environment, Local Government, and Trade are aligning their various programs and connecting the dots in the value chain of the bamboo industry. These programs include from tissue culture, and planting materials developed by DA to plant propagation and greening program of DENR, to processing, product development and design and marketing by DTI.

Several private organizations and advocacy groups will likewise merge their activities into the council’s programs. Moreover, being an agribusiness activity, located at the countryside, Lopez added that these activities are included in the Board of Investments BOI investment priorities plan or IPP that can enjoy incentives. The PBDIC is now also heavily supported by the House Deputy Speaker DV Savellano, being a staunch Bamboo advocate for years.

“The DENR’s National Greening program is targeting to plant 19,000 hectares of bamboo nationwide" said Sec. Lopez.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar also expressed support for this effort in turning bamboo crops into an investment opportunity. Sec. Dar recently approved DTI’s request of including bamboo as a high-value crop. DA encourages farmers to plant high-value crops like mango, banana, coffee, and cacao as they are expected to generate more profit.

"With bamboo as a high-value crop, we can undertake various interventions that include research, processing and value-adding, and budgetary support, complementing the programs and projects of the PBIDC," said Sec. Dar.

Bamboo takes only three years to fully grow as compared to 10 to 20 years for wood trees. The plant can be used as construction materials, as well as furniture and paper-making, among others, providing a good livelihood source for a community.

Sec. Lopez shared that investments are welcome at all stages of the value chain from nurseries to design studios. Both secretaries also promoted the use of modern technology to quickly propagate and process the plant. Secretary Dar meanwhile encouraged the participation of big businesses to partner and help the small farmers, to make the project more competitive and profitable.

PBDIC Vice-Chair and Ilocos Sur Representative Savellano shared that the bills filed are to institutionalize the PBDIC and these are now being discussed at the 18th Congress. He also committed to push the bill at the bicameral hearings.

Senate Bill 524, proposed by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, aims to make bamboo a main export product by creating the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap and the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council to provide the overall policy and program directions, and coordinate the activities of the public and private sectors.

The council will have an official launch to promote the bamboo industry. The campaign will be named 5K: Kawayan, Kalikasan, Kabuhayan, Kaunlaran, Kinabukasan.

DTI Supports ProPak; Strives for Sustainable PH Economy Through Processing and Packaging

Ensuing the success of last year’s trade exposition, ProPak, the premiere processing and packaging trade show in Asia, returned to set up its 2nd edition in the Philippines, at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, Pasay City last February 5.

Organized by Informa Markets, with the support of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Packaging Institute of the Philippines (PIP) and other government and non-government agencies, ProPak Philippines 2020 flaunts more than 400 exhibitors from 30 countries featuring the world-class packaging and processing machines, benefiting a wide range of sectors from food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.

This three-day trade exhibit aims to further boost the capability of local packaging service providers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

DTI has acknowledged the role of good packaging and processing to Philippine MSMEs in enhancing their productivity, marketability, profitability and competitiveness and so introduced various initiatives on product development such as Pak! Pinas, One Town One Product (OTOP) Next Gen, and now the promotion of the ProPak Philippines.

“Many of the MSMEs, food processors, and even non-food, will always be challenged to exhibit their products well and so we are challenged to find solutions – maybe integrate these two sectors, the packaging and the MSMEs. So in 2018, we gave some rounds of packaging gatherings. We created the Pak! Pinas roadshows in Region 4A as well as in Visayas and Mindanao, and it gained success. From that time on, we saw the improvement in the confidence of micro entrepreneurs seeing developments in their products. Then came the ProPak Philippines and we’ve seen some its successes already. We hope that this will continue to get better and better,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez during the ProPak’s launching.

Trade Chief Lopez also urged the ProPak exhibitors to continuously reach out to MSMEs and offer affordable packaging technologies.

Through the Regional Operations Group’s initiative, DTI sent more than 500 MSMEs to ProPak Asia in Bangkok, Thailand in 2018. Last year, the pioneer edition of ProPak Philippines reached to a close of 10,000 trade visitors, and stakeholders.

“DTI vows to continue its support to ProPak as the Department has seen the huge potential of the Philippines in the packaging industry and exploring ways to reach its goal to help the people in this industry through expanding their knowledge, innovating packaging solutions, and connecting with the international network of the industry,” said MSME Advocate Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona.

Furthermore, Secretary Lopez reiterated the significant role of MSMEs in sustaining the economic development of the Philippines, as it continuously contributes to the employment generation as well as the eradication of poverty in the country. Through DTI’s efforts, there are now around 1.5 million registered enterprises in the country.

Gracing the event was also House Committee Chairman in Commerce and Industry Weslie Gatchalian.

ProPak Philippines 2020 runs through February 5-7, 2020.

DTI CHIEF ASKS HI TECH PACKAGING SUPPLIERS TO CATER TO MSMEs

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said access to modern high technology packaging suppliers will help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) level up their productivity and competitiveness. The secretary was a keynote speaker at the Propak Philippines 2020 on 5 February at the World Trade Center. Sec. Lopez urged the exhibitors to reach out to MSMEs and offer affordable packaging solutions. He also said that with the use of robotics and artificial intelligence in some of the products available at ProPak, packaging suppliers bring the necessary innovation and technology that can help MSMEs improve their products, raise their profit, and increase the sector’s contribution to the economy. SMEs should also have easier access to digital transformation for their operations. Through the many DTI initiatives that can help MSMEs, Sec. Lopez hopes to further increase the number of registered enterprises from around 1.5 million today to 2 million in 2021. Also gracing the event was House Committee Chair in Commerce and Industry Weslie Gatchalian, who expressed support for DTI’s push for technology and has lobbied to increase the budget for DTI’s Shared Service Facilities. The packaging and processing trade fair runs until 7 February and features the latest technology from global suppliers.

DTI Suspends PS Licenses of Six Steel Manufacturers

Contrary to the recent statement made by a product standards and quality group that government has failed to take action against retailers and manufacturers of substandard steel, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) suspended the Philippine Standard (PS) licenses of six (6) steel manufacturers in 2019 for failing the independent testing commissioned by the DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) from the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC).

These steel manufacturers include Maxima Steel Mills Corp., Henro Steel Corp., Steel Asia Manufacturing Corp. – Meycauayan Bulacan Plant, Cathay Metal Corp., Somico Steel Mill Corporation, and Sagarthama Steel Trading Corporation.

1) Maxima Steel Mills Corp. - Deformed Steel Bar and Equal Leg Angle Bar

2) Henro Steel Corp. - Rerolled Steel Bar

3) Steel Asia Manufacturing Corp. - Meycauayan Bulacan Plant - Deformed Steel Bar

4) Cathay Metal Corp. - Equal Leg Angle Bar

5) Somico Steel Mill Corporation - Rerolled Steel Bar

6) Sagarthama Steel Trading Corporation - Deformed Steel Bar

The suspension order resulted from unannounced surveillance audits conducted by the BPS in 2019 on various steel manufacturing plants in the country. Samples culled from these audits that were subjected to testing by the MIRDC proved that these six steel manufacturers were not compliant with the standards indicated in Philippine National Standard (PNS) 49, Series of 2002. Until these steel manufacturers comply with the PNS, their PS licenses will remain suspended.

In addition to this, the BPS denied the issuance of Import Commodity Clearances (ICC) for deformed steel bars and equal leg angle bars imported by Megawide Construction Corporation, Petron Corporation, and Remington Industrial Sales Corporation, approximately valued at over sixty-eight million pesos (P68,000,000).

The deformed steel bars imported by Megawide Construction Corporation were denied issuance of ICC due to non-compliance with PNS 49:2002 while those imported by Petron Corporation had no proper markings. Remington Industrial Sales Corporation, on the other hand, has no valid PS license for the importation of equal leg angle bars. All these imported steel bars were either destroyed or exported to their country of origin.

It can also be recalled that in September 2019, Wan Chiong Steel Corp. was found to be manufacturing deformed steel bars that are not covered by the scope of their PS license. After due process and filing of formal charge, the DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) issued a decision last November 2019 for said steel manufacturing company to pay administrative penalty amounting to P450,000.00. Earlier, the same steel manufacturer was suspended for five (5) months for non-compliance with PNS 49.

Similarly, Dragon Asia Rolling Mills was also found to be manufacturing steel that are not covered by the scope of their PS license. Formal charge against the company has been filed by the FTEB and the case is now up for decision.

“For the whole of 2019, the DTI penalized a total of 42 retailers and manufacturers of steel — a clear contrast to the claim of a product safety and quality group that the Department failed to charge violating steel manufacturers and traders for substandard steel products. The DTI stops at nothing in tracking down unscrupulous businesses and ensuring that violators are dealt with to the highest and fullest extent of the law. The protection of consumers is our utmost priority and we remain steadfast in our commitment,” said DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.

Since the beginning of President RodrigoDuterte’s  administration, the DTI has intensified its surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement efforts on all products and services that are under its jurisdiction, especially those included in the mandatory product certification list such as steel.

In conjunction with this effort, the DTI advises the public to remain vigilant when purchasing products, including steel and other construction materials. Always look for the PS or ICC mark to be assured of quality and safety.

For the complete list of products that should bear the PS and ICC marks, please visit the BPS portal at www.bps.gov.ph. To report establishments selling uncertified and non-conforming products, please call the One-DTI (1-384) Hotline or send an email to consumercare@dti.gov.ph.