ANOTHER consumer-advocacy group on Friday asked President Duterte to address the proliferation of substandard cement and to hold accountable those behind it before the government undertakes its record spending on infrastructure starting next year.
The Filipino Consumer Federation (FCF) joined the clamor of other consumer groups to address the threat of substandard cement in the market, which could put lives and property in danger if used in any construction project.
FCF Chairman Juanito Galvez said those behind the proliferation of substandard cement should be investigated, and cited the allegedly questionable actions of Trade Undersecretary Victor Dimagiba in dealing with complaints regarding the sale of substandard cement in the market.
Galvez said Dimagiba should be replaced at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), while the complaints against him are being addressed by the proper authorities. Galvez said Dimagiba is already above the mandatory retirement age of 65.
Earlier, National Consumer Affairs Council (NCAC) Chairman Jose Pepito called for faster government action against substandard cement in the local market, which he said had already been an issue since the Aquino administration, and persists to this day.
“This complaint has been there for a long time, so I’m wondering why nothing has been done about it,” Pepito said. “Many consumers may not be aware of the problem, because they are not technically knowledgeable. So what is the government doing about it?” Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines President and former Trade Undersecretary Ernesto Ordoñez also recently asked the Office of the Ombudsman to look into the proliferation of substandard cement, and to investigate certain DTI officials for “gross incompetence and possible criminal negligence” for failing to act promptly on the problem.