Cementing progress

The recent flood of cement, mainly from Vietnam, required the Department of Trade and Industry to impose anti-dumping duties for the next five years.

The imposition proved domestic industries still need some measure of protection even as markets in the region opened up after the start of the ASEAN Economic Community.

Safeguard duties allow space for local manufacturers to beef up their strength to compete amid the influx of cheap imports as global trade opens up.

The rule for domestic industries is to compete or be conquered, making it a tough market for cement makers that have invested heavily to modernize and expand output.

Industry officials have vouched for the effectiveness of the safeguard measures in tempering imports from China, Thailand, Japan, and other Asian countries except for Vietnam.

The absence of safeguard duties makes the local industry very vulnerable to imports, especially when energy prices are at their highest.
Cement manufacturing is among the most energy-intensive industries.

The unabated dumping of imported cement from Vietnam "undermined the safeguard measures" that industry leaders said should be strengthened.

Dumping undermines the capability of the domestic cement manufacturing industry to contribute to and catalyze inclusive growth through job creation, tax revenue generation, improving the balance of payments, utilization of local resources, and encouraging additional investments.

Among companies that have emerged stronger amid the challenges of the evolving industry is Century Peak Cement Manufacturing Corporation, a subsidiary of Century Peak Holdings Corp. led by businessman Willie Keng. It plans to increase its monthly cement sales from the current output of 1 million bags to 1.5 million bags.

Its factory in Pinamungajan, Cebu, is projected to ramp up production to 2 million bags per month soon.

Century Peak is pursuing an increase in output while promoting a sustainable environment.

The company plans to inaugurate a state-of-the-art tonner facility in October 2023 to further expand its operations. This facility will enable the production of bags with large carrying capacities, accommodating significant volumes of cement.

Century Peak, thus, aims to challenge the dominance of multinational cement producers, including dumped products, through the nationwide distribution of its products.

The company's flagship offering, Type 1 PRIME cement, is becoming a favorite for big-ticket infrastructure like the mall buildup of SM Prime Holdings Inc.

Luxury dump trucks
Sometime in 2017, a fire truck deal resulted in Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno being sacked.

The deal was sealed during the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III when Jesse Robredo was interior secretary, and the first batch of fire trucks arrived when Manuel Roxas II took over the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Questions are now being raised on the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's purchases of trucks, garbage traps, and accessories for the project dubbed "Installation of Garbage Traps in Metro Manila Waterways."

According to a source, the project includes an Isuzu Hook Lift 3-ton truck worth P1.66 million, but MMDA purchased it for P11.36 million. Multiply the overprice by five trucks, thus a total of P48.5 million in overprice.

Another Sino Truck Howo Dump Truck of 6-cubic meters capacity with a market price of P1.65 million was purchased at P6.69 million per truck, multiplied by 11 trucks, and the total overprice is P55.5 million.