The Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) is calling on the government to enforce the updated national standard for steel bars, warning that the proliferation of non-compliant products could aggravate earthquake damage.

In a letter to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) dated June 8, PISI pushed for the immediate implementation of PNS 49:2026, the updated Philippine National Standard for Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement.

“Every day we delay implementation is another day Filipino lives are at risk from buildings that were built legally but not built to withstand what this country’s geology demands,” said PISI President Joel Ronquillo.

The updated standard bans steel grades that fail to meet seismic performance requirements or lack the capacity to withstand forces generated during an earthquake. Developed by the DTI’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), PNS 49:2026 aligns the country’s rebar specifications with the National Structural Code of the Philippines and global seismic design requirements.

Ronquillo noted that non-seismic steel grades—which were permitted under previous standards—are unsuitable for structures built in seismic zones. However, these grades remain in widespread use across domestic construction, raising sharp concerns about the country’s seismic resilience.

“Every earthquake is a structural audit. The Philippines cannot afford to keep failing it,” PISI stated.

The industry group argued that the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake off the coast of Sarangani, which caused building collapses and casualties, should prompt the government to enforce the new standard. PISI added that the collapse of a nine-story mixed-use building under construction in Pampanga last month serves as another grim reminder of the urgent need to ensure construction materials meet seismic safety requirements.

In its letter, PISI urged the DTI to mandate PNS 49:2026 compliance across all national agencies and local government units. The group also encouraged the government to partner with industry stakeholders to facilitate a smooth transition and raise public awareness of the new standard.

Furthermore, the group stressed that the DTI must intensify its monitoring of manufacturers, distributors, and contractors to ensure compliance with the new grade requirements.

“PISI has formally offered its technical assistance to support the effective rollout of PNS 49:2026 across the construction sector,” the institute concluded.