Manila, April 9 -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has expressed openness to discussing a proposal from the steelmakers' group to ban the use of induction furnaces in local steel production.

Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) Senior Trade Industry Development Specialist John Steven Magboo said although there is no current policy on the prohibition of the use of induction furnaces for steel production, the DTI is "definitely open to discuss regarding that issue and the so-called process of manufacturing the steel parts".

During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay in Malate, Manila on Wednesday, Magboo invited industry stakeholders to submit data supporting their claims that induction furnaces are incapable of producing steel that cons...