Stronger school-community ties cut violence, improve student safety

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

 

MAKATI CITY, 17 January  2026 — At Ramon Torres Louisiana National High School in Barangay Ma-ao, Bago, Negros Occidental, student safety has become a shared responsibility, shaped less by slogans and more by steady cooperation among teachers, parents, barangay officials, and police. 

Before the end of 2025, the school held its annual Children’s Rights, Anti-Bullying, and Drug Abuse Prevention Program, drawing around parents alongside students, teachers, and community partners. The activity reflected a long-running effort by the school to address concerns over bullying, peer pressure, and exposure to illegal drugs through sustained dialogue and coordination beyond the campus.

School principal Helen Dela Cruz, together with the faculty and staff and the School Parent-Teacher Association led by President Roger Palma, worked with the Barangay Ma-ao Council and the Philippine National Police to deliver sessions focused on student rights, responsibilities, and the real-world consequences of violence and substance abuse. Resource speakers and VAWC Desk Officers reinforced messages on child protection and welfare.

The school’s faculty president Ronald Alegre shared the initiative grew out of practical concerns faced by the school community.

“These issues [bullying, peer pressure, and illegal drugs exposure] posed risks to students’ safety, behavior, and academic performance. Addressing them became necessary to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment,” Alegre said.

“The school, parents, and community worked together through awareness campaigns, seminars, and regular coordination with the Brgy. Ma-ao Council and the Philippine National Police. Parents actively supported the school by monitoring their children, while the PNP provided guidance on laws and the harmful effects of bullying and drug abuse,” he added, noting that the school observed a decrease in bullying cases.  

While the activity was organized independently by the school, its approach mirrors the direction being encouraged nationally by the Department of Education’s Kaagapay Program, which emphasizes the role of parents and communities as partners in learner protection and well-being.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has said that stronger school–family–community ties are key to addressing violence and safety concerns in schools.

“Mahalaga ang ganitong mga hakbang ng paaralan—yung hindi naghihintay ng problema bago kumilos, kundi nakikipag-ugnayan agad sa magulang at komunidad. Doon talaga mas nagiging ligtas ang learners at mas nasusuportahan ang mga guro,” Angara said.  

This 2026, the department will conduct five batches of orientation on the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10627, or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, to equip regional and division focal persons and school heads with updated guidelines on handling bullying cases.

DepEd is also working with Stairway Foundation Inc. to develop anti-bullying classroom decks that will serve as the basis for session guides to help teachers facilitate age-appropriate discussions with learners, with rollout targeted for School Year 2026–2027.

For Ramon Torres Louisiana National High School, the impact is already visible in smaller, consistent steps. By keeping parents involved, maintaining open lines with local authorities, and repeating the conversation year after year, the school is building a safer environment one partnership at a time.

“When families, the community, and authorities work together, prevention efforts become more effective and sustainable. This collaboration helps create a safer school environment where learners feel protected and supported,” Teacher Alegre added.

Laboratory Tests Confirm Toxic Lead in 3 Paints Discovered by EcoWaste Coalition

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

17 January 2026, Quezon City.  Laboratory analyses detected lead above the legal limit of 90 parts per million (ppm) in three imported paints purchased by the EcoWaste Coalition from a local online seller, rendering them illegal for importation, distribution, and sale in the Philippines.  

Based on the test reports provided by SGS, a global testing company, the submitted samples of green, beige, and orange Nasmc Spray Paint contained 7,460 ppm, 10,000 ppm, and 30,500 ppm of lead, respectively.

The Chemical Control Order (CCO) for lead and its compounds issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2013 established a strict 90 ppm maximum limit for lead in all paints, including spray paints. The CCO further set phase-out deadlines for lead-containing decorative and industrial paints, which ended on December 31, 2016, and December 31, 2019, respectively.

As stamped on the bottom of the paint cans, all three products were manufactured on June 25, 2025, which is well past the phase-out deadlines, the EcoWaste Coalition pointed out.

Bought for P141 per 450 mL can from a Shopee dealer, Nasmc Spray Paint provided no lead content information or lead in paint hazard warning on its label to forewarn consumers. The name of the manufacturer and the country of manufacture were also not disclosed.  However, the label described the product, usage, and emergency instructions.

The three lead-containing Nasmc products will be added to the “Public Notice on Lead-Containing Paints” co-published by the EcoWaste Coalition, International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), and the Philippine Paint and Coatings Association, Inc. (PPCAI). The notice currently lists 228 laboratory-tested lead-containing paints, mostly marked "made in China" or "made in Thailand."

The persistent sale of imported spray paints with lead content prompted the EcoWaste Coalition to advise consumers to be vigilant and refrain from purchasing paints with poor labeling information and lacking verifiable proof of compliance with the CCO’s lead content limit.

Lead-containing paints are a major source of lead exposure among children globally. “There is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects," according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which has included lead among the ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern, along with arsenic, asbestos, benzene, cadmium, dioxins, mercury, highly hazardous pesticides, etc

Lead is a powerful multi-system poison that harms numerous bodily systems and organs, including the brain and central nervous system. Exposure during early childhood, when the developing brain is most vulnerable, is particularly dangerous, as it can lead to lower intelligence quotients (IQ), inattentiveness, impaired learning ability, conduct disorder, aggression, and other behavioral problems. 

To address the unlawful entry of lead-containing paints in the Philippines, the EcoWaste Coalition is campaigning for stronger measures to stop lead paint imports, including the listing of lead chromates as hazardous chemicals in the Rotterdam Convention to control the global trade of these common lead-based pigments and paints containing such pigments.

How a Surge Protection Device Safeguards Your Electrical Equipment

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Modern homes, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities depend on sensitive electrical instruments, digital systems, and automated equipment to operate safely and efficiently. These devices are exposed daily to transient voltage disturbances caused by lightning strikes, switching operations, overloaded circuits, or utility grid instability.

Even brief surges can damage components, corrupt data, shorten equipment lifespan, or halt critical processes. As electrical demands grow across all sectors, understanding surge protection becomes essential to maintaining system reliability. Many facilities rely on advanced surge protection devices for comprehensive equipment protection, ensuring safer operation and improved long-term performance across their power infrastructure.

Why Voltage Surges Occur in Electrical Systems

Voltage surges occur when the electrical supply experiences a sudden, temporary increase in voltage. These events can enter a building through power lines, communication cables, or internal switching actions.

Sensitive equipment such as servers, automation controllers, medical devices, and control panels can malfunction when subjected to excessive voltage. Surges often result from lightning, transformer switching, motor starting, or faults on nearby circuits.

Even small fluctuations accumulate over time and degrade insulation, contacts, and electronic components. Installing these protection devices helps facilities reduce these risks significantly and maintain equipment health.

How Surge Protection Devices Work

A surge protection device acts as a safety barrier between incoming power sources and connected electrical equipment. It diverts excessive voltage away from sensitive circuits to grounding paths, helping maintain a stable operating voltage.

When a surge occurs, these devices respond within microseconds, clamping the voltage to safe levels. This rapid reaction prevents destructive energy from reaching equipment and reduces the likelihood of operational interruptions. Once the disturbance passes, the device resets automatically and continues monitoring system conditions.

Protecting Sensitive Equipment and Critical Operations

Sensitive equipment requires controlled voltage to function correctly. Without proper protection, frequent surges can damage internal components, trigger costly repairs, or lead to complete equipment failure. Many industries deploy surge protection devices to protect automation panels, measurement instruments, robotics, HVAC drives, servers, and communication devices.

By reducing exposure to electrical stress, these devices help extend equipment lifespan and maintain stable performance. This ensures safer operations in environments where uptime, accuracy, and continuous service matter.

Reducing Downtime and Operational Losses

Unexpected downtime can disrupt production schedules, affect customer services, and increase maintenance expenses. A well-engineered surge protection device helps prevent unexpected power-related failures that interrupt operations.

Facilities that employ these protection devices experience fewer shutdowns caused by voltage disturbances. This improved reliability supports business continuity, reduces reactive maintenance, and stabilizes long-term operational planning across production lines or commercial environments.

Supporting Layered Protection Strategies

Surge protection works best when deployed across multiple points in the electrical system. Engineers incorporate surge protection devices at main panels, subpanels, and equipment-level distribution boards to strengthen overall defense against disturbances. Layered installation ensures harmful energy is intercepted before reaching sensitive circuits.

This approach supports better coordination among breakers, grounding networks, and protective devices across the facility. When combined with proper grounding, isolation transformers, and stable power supply equipment, these protection devices form a strong foundation for electrical safety and dependability.

Enhancing System Safety and Compliance

Electrical safety regulations require protection against transient overvoltage conditions in many industrial and commercial applications. Installing a reliable surge protection device supports compliance with these standards and helps protect workers, equipment, and building infrastructure.

These devices incorporate robust internal components designed to withstand high-energy disturbances while maintaining performance across demanding environments. Regular inspections and proper placement further strengthen safety across the facility.

Ensuring Future-ready Protection for Growing Electrical Demands

As organizations add more digital equipment, automation tools, and energy-sensitive devices, surge protection becomes increasingly important. A high-quality surge protection device supports expanding electrical systems and offers scalable protection for future loads.

Advanced models provide diagnostic indicators, replaceable modules, and enhanced clamping performance that support long-term protection strategies. This ensures equipment remains safe as technology evolves.

Protect What Matters with Dependable Surge Protection Technology

A dependable surge protection device becomes essential for safeguarding electrical equipment, maintaining uptime, and supporting operational confidence. By partnering with a reputable electrical brand, organizations gain access to engineered protection solutions, expert guidance, and long-term service support.

With the right partner, facilities can deploy durable surge protection strategies that strengthen reliability, reduce failure risks, and support safer, more efficient electrical environments. This investment helps future-proof operations as electrical demands continue to grow.