Imported cement awaits clearance, Philippines
More than half of the shipment of the Conch cement brand imported by businessman Vic Lao is awaiting result of laboratory test currently done at the Bureau of Product Standards in Manila. The other half already passed clearance and is cleared for distribution in the market.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) director for Davao City Teolulo Pasawa in an interview said shipment of imported products has to be tested per bill of lading.
Lao in a separate interview said his importation for the Conch cement is about 14,000t from China.
He said the test was administered by DTI where they themselves collected the sample and had it tested under an accredited laboratory.
Pasawa said that Lao applied importation last week for 6,000 plus metric tons of cement of the Conch brand and after it passed the test done between three to five days the product was issued an Import Commodity Clearance (ICC).
However he said there was another load of 7,000 tons of same branch of cement intended to be distributed in other area but was shipped to Davao City and this imported cement shipment has to be tested as well.
“The samples were already collected and sent to Manila for testing and it will take a week for the result to come out,” he said.
He said while waiting for the result the product is not yet cleared for distribution. Once it gets the ICC it is will now be allowed for distribution to the market.
Pasawa said since it carries the same brand and loaded in the same ship I believe it will have same result.
He said Lao already made a record of importing quality standard cement of same brand that shipped to Cotabato in November 2006.
The sample was tested at Philcemcor, an affiliate laboratory of Holcim and it passed the standard
In an earlier report it was alleged that the shipment stocks of dubious cement brand entered Davao City.
Lao in an interview said that a certain Mr. Maligad bearing identification card of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry went to the Bureau of Customs checking on alleged dubious shipment.
He said cited the impropriety of PCCI by sending their men to check on the businesses of Davao City, which to him should be the local chamber’s call.
With this scenario Lao was suspecting that it was a backlash of the disaffiliation of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. from PCCCI.
He said the DCCCII board already agreed in their board meeting last Tuesday that they will raise a protest to the Department of Finance on the act of PCCCI.
Pasawa however said that if there are concerns that would affect consumer rights anybody could lodge a complaint. “We make sure that consumer gets quality products,” he said. Published under Cement News
