The Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) is urging the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to accelerate the implementation of the new national standard for steel bars to strengthen the country’s resilience against earthquakes and prevent further harm from building failures.

PISI President Joel Ronquillo told reporters that he had sent a letter to Trade Secretary Cristina Roque last week urging a shorter transition period for the updated Philippine National Standard (PNS) for deformed steel bars.

He said the DTI’s draft memorandum circular has set a transition period of more than nine months, or until April 30, 2027, before the new steel standard takes effect and becomes mandatory.

“We urge that mandatory implementation be enforced immediately, or up to a maximum of three months at most, given the industry's readiness and sufficient capacity to comply,” said Ronquillo.

Based on PISI estimates, around two million metric tons (MT) or 25 percent of the industry’s current production capacity of eight million MT, consist of non-seismic or regular-grade rebars, which are now non-compliant under the new PNS.

Since the new standard is not yet in place, PISI said these steel products remain legal for use in construction for as long as nine more months under the proposed timeline.

The DTI should accelerate the implementation despite calls from certain manufacturers for an even longer four-year transition period, according to former trade undersecretary Ernesto Ordoñez.

Ordoñez said these companies already have the capacity to adjust and produce compliant steel bars, while also having other products to rely on to offset any potential losses.

“Four years means they want to continue making money at our expense,” he said.

Just over two months after the PNS was approved in May, PISI noted that more than 120 people have died and 1,316 have been injured in earthquakes across various parts of the country.

The industry group added the collapse of a nine-story mixed-use building in Pampanga should serve as another reminder of the urgent need to ensure that construction materials meet seismic safety requirements.

PISI is also urging the DTI to shorten the public comment period for the draft memorandum circular to no more than seven days from the proposed 60-day period to speed up implementation.

“We stand ready to support an immediate transition, and we urge the department to act with the same sense of urgency the Filipino public expects," said Ronquillo. “Every day of delay puts Filipino lives at stake.”