Philippines to Update Steel Safety Standards by August Amid Earthquake Concerns

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is aiming to issue updated steel standards by next month to promote infrastructure safety and resilience given the country’s high risk for earthquakes. Trade Secretary Cristina Roque told reporters that the DTI is looking to release the memorandum for the new steel standards by August. “We are really focused on that now especially because of the (recent) earthquake,” she said. The DTI is set to hold a public consultation on the draft memorandum circular on the updated Philippine National Standard for Deformed Steel Bars covered by Department Administrative Order 18-08 series of 2018 on Thursday. Through the consultation, the DTI aims to gather stakeholders’ recommendations and inputs on the updated standards. Industry groups such as the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute, South East Asia Iron and Steel Institute and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Iron and Steel Council have been urging the government to immediately implement new steel standards amid the recent earthquake that hit Mindanao and the collapse of a building in Pampanga. Ronald Magsajo, chairman of South East Asia Iron and Steel Institute and president of ASEAN Iron and Steel Council, earlier said the DTI has come up with new standards on steel safety, but it was unclear when this would be implemented. The new standards developed by the DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards are aligned with the National Structural Code of the Philippines and international seismic design requirements. These updated standards also ban the use of steel products that do not meet seismic performance requirements. Magsajo said that the implementation of the new standards would ensure only higher grade steel is being used in the country.