The United Filipino Consumers Council (UFCC) has warned against the potential damage in case of a strong earthquake, owing to the reported proliferation of substandard construction materials.
Unless stopped, Rodolfo Javellana, president of UFCC, said in a news statement issued over the weekend that the use of substandard construction materials would lead to disaster.
Javellana issued the statement expressing fear of “unimaginable havoc” similar to what Surigao City experienced after 6.7-magnitude earthquake shook the area around 10:03 p.m. last Friday. The earthquake left six people dead, with more than 100 others injured. The earthquake tore down buildings and houses, and cause severe damage to the airport in Surigao del Norte province.
According to Javellana, importers who smuggle into the country substandard steel bars and evade product inspection in complicity with concerned public officials should be held responsible for violation of the National Building Code, or Republic Act 6541.
“While science cannot stop quakes, there are ways to minimize the damage to properties and [loss of] lives through the strict prohibition on the use of substandard building materials,” he said.
The building code states that structures should be able to withstand intensity-9 earthquakes.
UFCC said the proliferation of substandard or even fake building materials has been a long-standing controversy because of the unchecked smuggling of steel products into the country.
In a letter on January 31 Javellana called on Rep. Ferjenel G. Biron of the Fourth District of Iloilo of the Committee on Trade and Commerce of the House of Representatives, to conduct an investigation on the importation of 20,000 metric tons of steel bars worth P500 million from China. The imported steel bars came through the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority port recently, he said.
“In the interest and protection of Filipino consumers against uncertified and possible substandard/hazardous construction materials, may we humbly request your trade and commerce committee to conduct an urgent inquiry or investigation on the matter?” the letter read.
The group expressed fear that the country is becoming a dumping ground of “noncompliant” and substandard building materials.
According to the group, tax evasion and duties due to the illegal entry of the substandard steel products is only one aspect of the problem, adding that threat of damage to structures and loss of lives is a much bigger problem.