House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has ordered a full-blown congressional investigation into the alleged rampant smuggling and selling of substandard steel in the country to ensure public safety in the aftermath of the deadly and destructive series of earthquakes that struck Mindanao since Oct. 16.
Cayetano sounded the alarm on the structural integrity of various structures in the countryside due to alleged unabated steel smuggling, especially with the latest 5.9 magnitude temblor that struck Kadingilan, Bukidnon last November 18, causing damage to several homes and buildings and death toll that has reached at least 22 people in Cotabato, South Cotabato, Maguindanao and Davao del Sur due to series of earthquakes.
“We cannot compromise public safety following deaths and destruction because of a series of earthquakes in Mindanao. The House of Representatives will look into the steel smuggling in the country and make accountable those who are behind this illegal activity,” Cayetano told reporters in an ambush interview when asked about the alleged smuggling of steel billets resulting to the supposed deceitful selling of quenched tempered (QT) steel bars in the country.
Cayetano supported the inquiry being initiated at the Lower House even as he reiterated that the House of Representatives will update the martial law-era National Building Code to guarantee public safety. Maricel V. Cruz
He also joined the observation that steel smuggling could have compromised the structural soundness of some infrastructure in the country in the last 10 to 12 years.
“Congress will work on measures to address the steel smuggling because we cannot just sit down and wait for a big disaster to hit us,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano welcomed Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Lemuel Fortun’s House Resolution (HR) 379 that calls for an investigation in aid of legislation into the alleged collusion between large steelmakers and officials of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) behind the smuggling of substandard steel products.
Fortun also said the House committee on Mindanao affairs would team up with the House committee on trade and industry to jointly probe the supposed smuggling of steel products.
He said the House will work on the passage of a law that will impose stricter regulation on the importation of construction products to address the alleged rampant smuggling of steel billets.
“We hope to be able to introduce major reforms to regulations on importation, inspection, and testing of steel products as well as other construction materials,” Fortun earlier said.
Recently, the BoC announced that it was cracking down on undervalued steel importations amid reports of substandard QT steel bars while Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Manuelito Luna bared that the parallel inquiry of the agency headed by chairman Dante Jimenez found sufficient evidence that will pin down those responsible for the alleged technical smuggling of billions of steel bars.
Assistant Customs Commissioner Philip Vincent Maronilla disclosed that four to five big steel companies were being audited by the BoC.
One of the companies reportedly undergoing audit is Steel Asia, one of the country’s biggest steel firms.
Fortun added that the House committee on Mindanao affairs would team up with the House committee on trade and industry to jointly probe the supposed smuggling of steel products following deaths and destruction caused by the series of earthquakes that hit Mindanao recently.
“The resolution will be referred to two committees, namely, the Committee on Trade and Industry and the Committee on Mindanao Affairs. The Mindanao Affairs committee is taking cognizance because of the urgency of the matter in Mindanao,” said Fortun.