The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yesterday announced that the public has until November 4 to comment on a proposed amendment on the rules covering mandatory certification of Portland cement and blended hydraulic cement with Pozzolan (DAO 17-06:2017).
In a statement issued yesterday, the DTI said the proposed amendment aims to include revisions on alkali content, processing addition and testing methods, and require post-shipment inspection and full product testing of cement.
“To further refine the draft Memorandum Circular, a 60-day commenting period has been opened to the public until November 4, 2025, accessible on the BPS (Bureau of Product Standard) website,” the DTI said.
This follows the visit by Trade Secretary Cristina Roque on the facility of Republic Cement in Teresa, Rizal.
The DTI said the visit “serves as an industry benchmark” for its move to update the national regulatory framework for cement to ensure the integrity of the country’s infrastructure.
“Given our country’s vulnerability to natural disasters, we must ensure that all construction materials, including cement, meet the highest quality and safety standards,” Roque said “This ensures the safety of the Filipinos, starting from the foundational materials of our homes and buildings.”
Roque emphasized the need to upgrade quality standards, given the country’s vulnerability to natural calamities.
The DTI-BPS noted that there is a total of 179 active cement manufacturer licensees as of September 2025, which includes 95 for Portland cement, 81 for blended hydraulic cement, and 3 for masonry cement, all complying with the Philippine National Standards.
