Consumerist hits trader for defying law on cement import
Trade department personnel were barred from entering the firm’s warehouse in Olongapo City
Consumerist hits trader for defying law on cement import
A consumer advocate has accused an importer of cement of defying laws on importation and product quality and standards.
Maria Lourdes Casas Quezon, a ranking member and former chairman of the National Women’s Club, said Subic-based construction firm Hanjin Heavy Industries is alleged to have possibly used the imported cement for its shipyard construction project at the Subic Freeport without first securing an import commodity clearance from the Department of Trade and Industry.
An ICC is required before the imported cement can be used for any construction project.
Quezon, who is chairman of the National Consumers Council, added that two trade department personnel were barred from entering the firm’s warehouse in Olongapo City, Zambales, thus preventing from conducting inspection and inventory of the imported cement.
The trade department wanted to determine whether the cement imports were stored or already being used despite the absence of an ICC.
A sampling conducted by trade department personnel on the imported cement showed that the Hanjin cement did not pass the mandatory quality standards required by the department. The trade department scheduled a re-testing, but Hanjin refused to submit to another test which is a requirement whenever the test is a failure.
The cement, consisting of 3,019 2-tonner bags equivalent to 5,994.94 metric tons, arrived at the Subic Freeport on Aug. 17, 2007 and was covered by Bill of Lading SPS-08-02/2007, imported from China. There have been two more shipments since then that arrived on Sept. 15 and on Oct. 17.
Quezon said that up to the present, the construction firm still refuses and continues to prevent trade department personnel from conducting inspection and inventory of the imported cement.
She disagreed with a Subic Free Port official who claimed that Subic is not subject to Philippine product standard just because it is a free port. She said that “Subic is undeniably part of Philippine territory and must follow Philippine laws.”
She said the company’s refusal to comply with the law sets a bad precedent that sends a wrong signal that other importers can defy authorities with impunity.
Consumerist hits trader for defying law on cement import
A consumer advocate has accused an importer of cement of defying laws on importation and product quality and standards.
Maria Lourdes Casas Quezon, a ranking member and former chairman of the National Women’s Club, said Subic-based construction firm Hanjin Heavy Industries is alleged to have possibly used the imported cement for its shipyard construction project at the Subic Freeport without first securing an import commodity clearance from the Department of Trade and Industry.
An ICC is required before the imported cement can be used for any construction project.
Quezon, who is chairman of the National Consumers Council, added that two trade department personnel were barred from entering the firm’s warehouse in Olongapo City, Zambales, thus preventing from conducting inspection and inventory of the imported cement.
The trade department wanted to determine whether the cement imports were stored or already being used despite the absence of an ICC.
A sampling conducted by trade department personnel on the imported cement showed that the Hanjin cement did not pass the mandatory quality standards required by the department. The trade department scheduled a re-testing, but Hanjin refused to submit to another test which is a requirement whenever the test is a failure.
The cement, consisting of 3,019 2-tonner bags equivalent to 5,994.94 metric tons, arrived at the Subic Freeport on Aug. 17, 2007 and was covered by Bill of Lading SPS-08-02/2007, imported from China. There have been two more shipments since then that arrived on Sept. 15 and on Oct. 17.
Quezon said that up to the present, the construction firm still refuses and continues to prevent trade department personnel from conducting inspection and inventory of the imported cement.
She disagreed with a Subic Free Port official who claimed that Subic is not subject to Philippine product standard just because it is a free port. She said that “Subic is undeniably part of Philippine territory and must follow Philippine laws.”
She said the company’s refusal to comply with the law sets a bad precedent that sends a wrong signal that other importers can defy authorities with impunity.
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
5:22 PM
1 Comments:
I filed a criminal a case on this issue so we will see if indeed SBMA is exempted from Philippine product standards
Atty Adrian sison
By
Unknown, at 1/30/2008 9:16 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home