Workers nabbed for mixing ‘kalburo’ with cement

Nine workers were arrested for repacking cement mixed with calcium bicarbonate, a filling agent locally known as kalburo, in San Pedro, Laguna.

According to a report by Tina Panganiban-Perez on Balitanghali on Monday, authorities on Sunday found that workers were mixing cement with the weaker agent at a warehouse in Barangay Landayan.

This developed after the police were tipped off by a known cement manufacturer.

"So yung binawas nilang laman, hahaluan nila ng powder, at 'yun, irerepack nila," said Supt. Chitadel Gaouiran of the Laguna regional police information.

The police confiscated the vehicles containing the compromised formula and arrested the drivers and employees for violating the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines or Republic Act No. 8293.

Adding calcium bicarbonate to the formula prevents the cement from drying and hardening to the to the demands of building solid structures, the report added.

The calcium bicarbonate is supposedly used to cure agriculture products.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) formulated a special technical working group to work on similar cases and put an end to the manufacturing of substandard cement products.

"Hindi ako maniniwala na 'yung siyam na gumagawa niyan ay sila ang puno't dulo.Sila'y pinag-utusan lamang niyan," DTI Undersecretary Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua told Pangaiban-Perez.

The use of the tampered product, the DTI warned, could consequent to deadly instances such as the collapse of buildings, houses and roads. 

"Ang epekto nito, hindi sa makaka-isa kayo, makakakuha ng kaunting kita, nadagdagan ang kita niyo, ngunit 'pag yan ang ginamit, ;'pag 'yan nasira and bahay, ang kalsada, ang building... hindi lang sa kagamitan, kundi buhay," Pascua added. —Claire Layug/NB, GMA News