Cement Price in the Philippines Too Expensive?

[Mike Ortega Ligalig]

The committee on trade and industry of the House of Representatives will undertake a full-blown investigation into the reported upsurge on the price of cement in the country, for the purpose of preventing it from "spiraling uncontrollably."

The impending probe had been set in motion through House Resolution no. 625 filed by Quirino Rep. Junie E. Cua, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, who expressed concern over the constant and steady increase in cement prices since 2002.

The investigation aims to compel LaFarge, Holcim and CEMEX, the three leading manufacturers of cement in the country, to submit their "actual cost structures to determine if there is really excessive profiteering."

Cua said the congressional investigation is also aimed at determining the actual capacity utilization of cement plants to ascertain the real domestic supply situation.

He said the three cement manufacturers, which control over 80 percent of the market, dominate the cement industry in the Philippines.

LaFarge controls 31 to 32 percent of the market. Holcim also controls 30 to 31 percent, while CEMEX has a market share of 18 to 20 percent.

"LaFarge's, Holcim's and Cemex's control of the local market can be traced to their seemingly unimpeded acquisition of or investment into Filipino cement companies," Cua said.

Data from the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) revealed that there had been an 84 percent increase in the price of cement from 2002 to 2007.

Cua explained that the average prevailing price of cement per 40 kg/bag in December 2007 was P175 as compared to only P95 in December 2002. The cost of cement again increased in April this year by P5 to P8 per bag due to the surging prices of fuel and petroleum products.

[lumine]

korek,mahal na jud kaau!

when we arrived in cagayan de oro on dec 14, 2007,my husband and i decided to make some extensions and renovations of the house we bought. we started the construction early january of this year. the price of the cement was P175 per bag. by april, it became P180.

before we left for bohol last week, nagpafence mi sa other property. i was shocked to know the price of the cement is now P218! GRABE! naa pa unta mi ipa-extend,madelay na lang until makatigum na sad.

[Mike Ortega Ligalig]

Two years ago the price was around P120. I guess we have the most expensive cement price in Asia.

[lumine]

that's what Herman is telling me,Mike. lisod na daw patukod ug balay ron kay mahal na tanan.

[Raquelproud boholana]

Mahal na gyud bitaw pag ayo ang cement diha.Kung magbaly ta ang 1 million pesos foundation ra na.

[lumine]

Mahal na gyud bitaw pag ayo ang cement diha.Kung magbaly ta ang 1 million pesos foundation ra na.

murag ana jud,quel.

[slackware]

kanang Philippine Sinter sa Garcia-Hernandez, di ba raw materials man sa semento ang gi mining diha? dapat naay factory sa cemeto sa bohol.

[bol-anon nga cebuano]

diri dapit sa amoa ang presyo naa ra sa 180-200 ang sako. pozzoland na ha. ang portlang maoy mahal jud kay tag 220-250 ang sako. daghan factory ug semento sa cebu. sa naga ug sa san fernando dagko na kaayo nga mga factory.

[lindy]

na ug mao nang kalakiha mobalik ta sa kinaraan nga paagi nga kawajan, salirap ug dahon sa buli ang gamiton aron mobalik ug ubos nang ilang presyo kay wala naman mamalit.

[slackware]

sa langub nalang ta mamuyo!

[lindy]

delikado sa linog Dong.

[buwadsanga]

sana mo ubos ang presyo kay wa man kaayoy demand.

ni mahal man gud ni gumikas oil price!

[Raquelproud boholana]

Daghan demand cement oi.Dadhang nagpatukod ron balay labi na sa Bohol.Kung wa magpatukod nagpa gate sa ila balay mao na inggara ug kamahal nang negosyante ug cemento.

[bolingitboy]

there might be a problem that is currently bugging the cement industry. despite the high demand for cement which is reason enough to maintain, if not double its production capacity, holcim, one of the largest cement manufacturers in the country, has in fact closed down one of its plants very recently.

[lindy]

ngano man Dong?

[bolingitboy]

it was in the news on TV one morning while i was getting dressed for work but i really wasn't really able to catch the whole story. what i remember was holcim's assurance to its workers that they will not be laying off any of them. instead they will be reassigned to other plant locations... whatever the reason for the suspension of plant operations might me, it is certain that it is one reason for the shortage of cement in the market that's driving up its cost.

[lindy]

thank u Dong.

[TOPAC]

slackware: mura diha toy business proposal sauna ang phil sinter corp sa g-hernandez nga magtukod ug cement company sila pero murag wa madayon kay murag wa musugot ang host communities/barrio folks.. abog daw.. pollution..

[slackware]

sila ra sad diay nakaingon maong mahal ang presyo sa semento karon.

[TOPAC]

the phils tried to import cement from taiwan a few years ago.. but a senator intervened.. that was sen. mar, allegedly the patron of the phils cement cartel.. mao wa madajun.. mao nimahal kay gamay ra supply, kusog demand kay daghan contruction sa makati, etc...

sa bohol dihay 2,000 ka sako paingun sa jagna pero gibalibag nilas balicasag kay maot tempo.. nalunod ang barko gihapun.. nimahal daun ang cemento kay way supply.. nadaot pa ang dive sites sa balicasag..