Senator Risa Hontiveros warned companies seeking to operate in the Philippines that doing business in the country comes with a strict obligation to protect workers and ensure that products meet required safety and quality standards.
Hontiveros issued the warning on Thursday, September 3, 2026, as she presided over the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs’ public hearing into issues confronting the country’s domestic steel industry.
“We opened this hearing to put the Philippine steel industry on the right track,” Hontiveros said, stressing that while the Philippines welcomes investments that generate jobs, businesses that compromise the safety and welfare of Filipino workers will not be tolerated.
The hearing examined reports on the proliferation of substandard and contaminated steel products that may already have been sold and used in the construction of buildings, schools, bridges, and other infrastructure across the country.
The committee also tackled allegations involving the treatment of Filipino workers at Chuangxing’s steel manufacturing plant, where workers reportedly suffered serious injuries, including broken bones and hearing loss, while some were reportedly exposed to suspected radiation hazards.
Hontiveros emphasized that investments must not come at the expense of workers’ lives, health, and safety, while products entering the Philippine market must comply with government standards.
The inquiry also looked into alleged violations involving other companies operating in the steel industry, including concerns over the possible presence of foreign malign actors within the sector.
The senator’s warning comes amid heightened scrutiny of the domestic steel industry, with lawmakers seeking to ensure that both imported and locally produced steel meet safety requirements and that companies operating in the Philippines are held accountable for violations.
The Senate committee is expected to continue examining the reported violations and other concerns raised during the inquiry as part of efforts to strengthen industry regulation, protect Filipino workers, and ensure the safety of infrastructure materials used throughout the country.
