Cement prices soar in some regions — DTI

Cement prices in Regions I, II, III and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) have increased, prompting the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to step up its monitoring of cement prices.

According to Trade Assistant Secretary Norman R. Hocson, the increase is due to supply problems caused by defective kilns in one of the cement companies servicing the said regions.

Hocson disclosed that Union Cement is currently undergoing repairs in some of its kilns, causing a 20 percent drop in production.

"As a result, supply for all four regions is coming from Union’s Bulacan plant," Hocson said.

However, he was quick to assure that the shortage is temporary.

Northern Cement, another cement company servicing the said region, cannot sufficiently cope with the supply gap left by Union Cement, Hocson said.

Both companies, the DTI official said, are also having difficulty getting coal for their production.

Coal, which is imported, has triples in price since December last year.

The DTI has asked the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CEMAP) to help address the supply problem by asking its other members to supply cement to the affected areas in Luzon.