The Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) needs to more strictly enforce Philippine National Standard (PNS) 49:206 for steel bars, following the Mindanao earthquake that raised questions about the seismic resistance of steel used in many wrecked buildings. In a statement reported by BusinessWorld, PISI emphasized that non-compliant rebar may have contributed to structural failures during the quake.
PISI noted that many buildings that collapsed or sustained severe damage were constructed with steel bars that did not meet the required ductility and strength standards for earthquake-prone areas. The group urged the DTI to ramp up market monitoring and penalize manufacturers and suppliers who distribute substandard rebar.
The institute also called for better coordination between national and local building officials to ensure that only PNS 49:206-certified steel is used in construction, particularly in regions with high seismic risk like Mindanao. PISI warned that continued use of non-resistant rebar poses a serious public safety threat in future earthquakes.