Cement makers welcome safeguard duty, vow to ensure stable supply

The Cement Manufacturers' Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) welcomed the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)'s decision to impose a safeguard duty on cement imports and vowed to ensure a stable supply of the building material to support the country's needs.

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"While we had hoped for a higher tariff, we fully respect the DTI's decision. We view this as a fair measure consistent with trade rules and supportive of the competitiveness of the local cement industry," CeMAP said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the DTI would adopt the Tariff Commission (TC)'s recommendation to impose a safeguard duty amounting to P14 per 40-kilogram bag or P349 per metric ton of imported Ordinary Portland Cement Type 1 and blended cement for a period of three years.