Govt spending buoys cement sales – Holcim

The cement industry is feeling the effects of higher public works spending by the Aquino administration, with cement maker Holcim Philippines seeing a slower sales decline of 6percent. The improved infrastructure disbursements in the third quarter “would have pushed up monthly volumes had it not been for the typhoons," said Holcim Philippines COO Roland van Wijnen. “The increased implementation of government projects in the third quarter bodes well for the company and the industry in general," Van Winjen said. Holcim sales in the first six months slipped by 9 percent, which translates to a sales decline of P951.57 million after the Aquino administration spent P89.96 billion less than it did last year. According to Holcim, “government has traditionally accounted for roughly half of total cement demand, which is why the lower infrastructure spending had such an impact on the industry." Holcim Philippines operates four cement plants in La Union, Bulacan, Misamis Oriental and Davao, and employs more than 1,800 people. — ELR/VS, GMA News