INIHALINTULAD ni Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez ang pagbebenta ng substandard products sa pagbebenta ng ilegal na droga na kapwa mapanganib sa buhay ng mga Filipino.
Ginawa ni Lopez ang pahayag sa joint press conference sa Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) at Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Tinalakay sa press conference ang DILG-DTI-DPWH Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2019-01 sa pagtiyak sa safe, adaptive, at disaster resilient communities.
Layon ng JMC na ihanda ang Greater Metro Manila Area (GMMA) sa ‘The Big One’ o ang magnitude 7.2 earthquake na bunga ng paggalaw ng West Valley Fault.
Sa pahayag ni Phivolcs OIC for Earthquake and Earthquake Hazards Ishmael Narag, ang ‘The Big One’ ay maaaring kumitil sa buhay ng mahigit sa 48,000 katao at 24,000 pa GMMA.
Sa ilalim ng circular, ang lahat ng local governments ay inaatasang i-assess ang structural integrity ng lahat ng public at private buildings at facilities kung sumusunod ang mga ito sa National Building Code of the Philippines.
Sa kanyang panig ay tiniyak ni Lopez na tumatalima ang Bureau of Philippine Standards sa Philippine National Standards, na nakahanay sa international counterparts nito. Ang standards para sa critical construction materials tulad ng steel, cement, at concrete ay binuo na rin at nirerepaso taon-taon.
“We even made the procedures stricter in testing standard compliance. For example, we have adjusted the sampling. Before, we only test three pieces no matter how large the imported steel shipment. Now, we are conforming to ISO’s ideal sample size: 50 pieces for 20,000 MT,” ani Lopez.
Binanggit din niya ang pag-iinspeksiyon sa local steel manufacturers kung saan nakikipagtulungan ang DTI sa DILG at PNP sa pagsasagawa ng surprise inspections sa suppliers, wholesalers, at retailers ng construction materials.
“We would have to trace the sources, the distributors, warehouses, as well as the source of the manufacturers. To guarantee that substandard materials are kept out of the market, those who fail to comply with requirements can face payment of penalties, revocation of permits, and possible imprisonment,” dagdag pa ni Lopez.
Bukod sa product standards, ang DTI ay nakikipag-ugnayan din sa food manufacturers, retailers, at distributors para i-coordinate ang food supply at delivery sa GMMA sakaling magkaroon ng lindol at iba pang kalamidad.
“We asked the food manufacturers and retailers for their committed supply and designated areas for delivery in case of natural disasters in the GMMA. This arrangement will just be triggered and run automatically. Some of these will be donated and the others will be paid by the government. We currently have technical working groups finalizing this arrangement,” ani Lopez.
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