DOMESTIC manufacturers are asking the government to establish the standards for roofing sheets anew and implement them immediately, as the market is already being flooded with “poor quality” galvanized sheets.

Jesus Arranza, president of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), said it is imperative for the government to put roofing sheets under mandatory product certification so the importers, and even the local makers, will not be able to sell their products without submitting to tests by the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“They can’t take their sweet time on this, especially with the numerous typhoons we are having. We are talking here of the hard-earned money of Filipinos,” Arranza told the BusinessMirror.

He said roofing sheets, particularly those coming from abroad including China, are so thin that they are easily deformed and destroyed.

Moreover, the coating is also of bad quality so that after just two days of rain, the coating could be removed already.

He said the DTI-BPS should again set the standards for roofing materials based on quality, longevity and safety that are attuned with international norms.

Global Steel of the Philippines said the market is now flooded with roofing sheets that are below 0.20-millimeters in thickness, including the coating.

Because they are priced considerably cheaper, consumers are easily lured into purchasing them, the company said.

The BPS should follow global standards of 0.20-mm thickness for the metal part alone, it said.

Arranza said the country used to have standards for roofing sheets but this was declared invalid by the court due to a petition by one company.

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