Philippines to Implement New Standards for Earthquake-Resistant Steel Bars

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it will release a memorandum circular (MC) for new steel standards in August, which is intended to upgrade earthquake resistance in construction materials. This move comes in the wake of heightened concerns about the reliability of building materials following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck southern Mindanao in June. In May, the DTI approved the Philippine National Standard (PNS) 49:2026, which sets new standards for steel bars, but the standard has yet to be made mandatory. "We're focused on that, especially because of the earthquake," Trade Secretary Maria Cristina A. Roque told reporters. Ms. Roque noted that the DTI is conducting consultations on the draft order for the upgraded steel standards. "That’s part of the usual process," she said. "There’s a lot of government departments that are working closely together to enforce whatever we will decide to implement." The DTI is set to hold a public consultation on July 23 on the draft MC for updating the reference PNS for deformed steel bars covered by Department Administrative Order No. 18-08, Series of 2018. PNS 49:2026, developed by the DTI’s Bureau of Philippine Standards, aligns rebar specifications with the National Structural Code of the Philippines and international seismic design requirements. Industry groups have asked the DTI to immediately enforce the new standards for steel bars to strengthen building safety. A magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit southern Mindanao in June, raising serious doubts about the reliability of steel used in construction. Damage to infrastructure from the Mindanao quake approached P1.5 billion as of late June, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Speaking to reporters last month, ASEAN Iron and Steel Council President Ronald C. Magsajo said the new standards will help ensure that steel products comply with seismic performance requirements. Mr. Magsajo also called on the government to ban the use of induction furnaces in the production of construction-grade steel. The process has been outlawed other Southeast Asian countries due to environmental and quality concerns. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz Information Source: BusinessWorld Economy