The Cement Testing Center (CTC), formerly known as the Cement Central Laboratory (CCL) is the country’s leading and most established cement testing laboratory today.

Founded in June 1980 by the defunct Philippine Cement Industry Authority (PCIA) of the Department of Trade and Industry in cooperation with the former Philippine Cement Manufacturers Corporation (Philcemcor) now Cement Manufacturers’ Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) and started its operation in January 1981, the CTC continuously monitors cement quality to ensure that all cement manufacturers and their traders comply with the requirements of the appropriate Philippine National Standards (PNS) to protect all cement users and consumers.

The Cement Testing Center works with:

• The DTI’s Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) by providing them with an unbiased testing in the field of physical and chemical analyses of hydraulic cement of all locally manufactured cement as well as imported ones to ensure compliance with appropriate Philippine National Standards.


• The DPWH-Bureau of Research and Standards (BRS) by providing them with an unbiased testing in the field of physical and chemical analyses of hydraulic cement of all locally manufactured cement as well as imported ones to ensure compliance with appropriate ASTM Standards.


• The cement industry by implementing the cement industry Quality Monitoring Guidelines through monthly sampling of all locally manufactured cement in-line and from various market sources in the country to ensure compliance with appropriate standards.


• The cement industry by providing it with training services in the area of cement physical and chemical analyses to help them raise the level of testing proficiency and competency towards achieving high quality products.


• The construction, concrete and other industries by providing them upon request with an unbiased testing in the field of physical and chemical analyses of all types of hydraulic cement under PNS and/or ASTM Standards for quality control and assurance purposes.

To be an internationally recognized testing laboratory for competence and reliability and a leading institution that provides protection of consumer welfare and safety.

• The CTC participates annually in Proficiency Testing Programs of the Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL) of the USA both in Portland and Blended cement.


• The CTC participates regularly in inter-laboratory testing exercises.


• All CTC analysts undergo regular and refresher training on chemical and physical testing of cement, cement raw and in-process materials.


• The CTC uses PNS and ASTM standard test methods that are internationally accepted and recognized and are validated under Philippine conditions


• The CTC regularly uses Certified Reference Materials (CRM) to monitor and evaluate accuracy of the laboratory.


• The CTC uses equipment that conforms to the requirements of the test methods. All undergo regular calibrations and/or checks.


• The CTC’s testing facilities conforms to the requirement of the standards and are designed for the intended use.


• The CTC uses chemical and physical testing supplies that conform to the requirement of the test methods.


• All samples received are properly documented and coded to prevent bias and ensure confidentiality.

June 1880 – The defunct Philippine Cement Industry Authority (PCIA) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Philcemcor founded and established the Cement Central Laboratory (CCL).

July 1985 – The Product Standards Agency (PSA), now the BPS, awarded the CCL an accreditation certificate based on the provisions of R.A. 4109, Rule 3 of PSA’s DAO No. 1, series of 1964.

July 1986 – The PCIA transferred the CCL’s supervision to Philcemcor.

May 1989 – The DPWH-BRS awarded the CCL its first accreditation for cement testing. The accreditation is being renewed annually until at present.

December 1997 – The CCL successfully passed the assessment of the BPSLAS under PNS 1600:1997 or PNS ISO/IEC Guide 25 and was awarded accreditation by the BPS.

June 2001 – The CCL successfully passed the re-assessment by the BPSLAS and was awarded accreditation for its 2nd term under PNS 1600:1997 or PNS ISO/IEC GUIDE 25

June 2003 – The CCL officially changed its name to Cement Testing Center (CTC).

December 2003 – The CTC passed the BPSLAS assessment and was awarded PNS ISO/IEC 17025: 2000 Certification and earned accreditation in the field of Construction Material Testing from the DTI-BPS.

June 2005 – The Cement Testing Center celebrates 25 years of excellence in cement testing.

May 2007 – The CTC passed the re-assessment conducted by the Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO) formerly the BPSLAS and was awarded the PNS ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 Certificate of Accreditation in the field of Chemical and Mechanical testing.