EcoWaste Coalition Pushes for Effective Enforcement of Mercury Cosmetic Ban

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 







(Group warns against mercury in speckle removing cream)

22 February 2026, Quezon City. The EcoWaste Coalition has called for effective enforcement actions to stop the continued production and trade of dangerous cosmetics laced with mercury despite the prohibitions in place.

The toxics watchdog group pushed for law enforcement actions following its detection of mercury on a China-made skin cream that promises to remove speckles, or small marks or spots on the skin.

As part of its vigilant monitoring of the marketplace for hazardous products, the group purchased the Nen Fu Mei Yan Herbage Ruddy Speckle Removing Cream for almost P300 from Tao Fashion through Lazada Philippines.

The group used an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer to check if the product contains mercury, a toxic chemical banned in the manufacture of cosmetics such as skin lightening products.

As per XRF screening, the product contains 705 parts per million (ppm) of mercury in violation of China and ASEAN cosmetic regulations, as well as the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Mercury is prohibited in the production of cosmetics under China’s Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics.

Under the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive adopted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Philippines, mercury is listed among the substances prohibited in cosmetic products.

The Minamata Convention on Mercury prohibits the manufacture, import and export of mercury-added cosmetics such as skin lightening creams, lotions and soaps.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), mercury is used in some skin lightening products “to block the production of melanin, leading to lighter skin tones,” listing “kidney and liver damage, neurological problems, and developmental issues in children” among the health effects.

Symptoms of mercury exposure may include tremors, mood swings, sleep disturbances, attention deficits, memory deterioration, impaired hearing and vision, change in taste function, and renal failure.

The EcoWaste Coalition also warned mercury-laced skin lightening products may endanger entire households, not just direct users. Children are particularly at risk, as they can inhale mercury vapors or absorb mercury through contact with contaminated bedding, towels, and from hugging, kissing, or touching someone using a tainted product.

To prevent mercury exposure and its detrimental effects, the group urged consumers to heed the following tips:

-- Embrace your natural skin color, and refrain from using skin bleaching, lightening, or whitening products,
-- If the source of the product or its ingredients are unclear, do not buy or use;
-- Reject products with improper labels and those with information you do not understand;
-- Use only FDA-authorized cosmetic products;
-- Go to https://verification.fda.gov.ph/ before adding to cart or making a purchase;
-- Get authorized cosmetics from reputable retail shops;
-- Shun banned or flagged cosmetics; and
-- Stop further use of mercury-added cosmetics and see a doctor for medical evaluation and advice.

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For Filipino learners’ future: Philippine cities join PBBM, DepEd push to speed up classroom construction

Wazzup Pilipinas?! 




MANILA, 23 February 2026 — City governments across the country have joined the Department of Education (DepEd) and the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in a unified effort to speed up the construction of classrooms, marking the first time cities nationwide formally committed to a single coordinated plan to address the country’s classroom shortage.



City mayors from across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Education at Malacañan Palace on Monday, pledging to help fast-track permits, identify priority schools, and support the construction of safe and modern classrooms in their communities.



President Marcos Jr. thanked the city LGUs for answering the call to help solve the classroom gap.

“Tiyakin nating hindi maaantala ang mga proyekto. Tiyakin nating de-kalidad ang mga silid-aralan. Tiyakin natin na ang bawat sentimo na pinaghirapan ng ating mga kababayan ay gagamitin sa tama,” President Marcos said.



The agreement builds on an earlier partnership with provincial governments and forms part of a broader national strategy to close the country’s 165,000 classroom gap.



Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who pushed for the flexibility provision of classroom construction in the 2026 General Appropriations Act, said the partnership will help deliver classrooms faster by working closely with local governments that understand the needs of their schools.



“Malaking hakbang ito upang mas mapabilis ang pagpapatayo ng mga silid-aralan. Alam ng ating mga lungsod kung saan pinakakailangan ang mga classroom, at sa pagtutulungan natin, mas mabibigyan natin ng ligtas at maayos na lugar ang ating mga mag-aaral at guro,” Angara said.



President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has identified education as a top priority, with a total of P85 billion allocated in 2026 for basic education facilities construction and rehabilitation.



DepEd is also exploring new approaches, such as public-private partnerships and leasing, to speed up delivery and improve learning conditions. LGUs are also encouraged to set up Learning Continuity Spaces (LCS) to ensure uninterrupted learning during classroom construction and in times of emergencies or disasters.



Angara said the nationwide partnership empowers cities to take direct action in helping build classrooms, reduce overcrowding, and ensure learners and teachers have better spaces for teaching and learning.





The signing was witnessed by teachers and learners, who will directly benefit from the faster construction of classrooms and better learning spaces.

𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐇𝐎𝐊 𝐍𝐀 𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐀𝐋Í𝐓! 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐈 𝐍𝐀 𝐒𝐀 𝐓𝐔𝐋Â 𝐓Á𝐘𝐎 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔!

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

Ilagay ang inyong lahok sa Google form link na ito: <https://forms.gle/KxzvL3Drx8FARqa3A>

Ang Tulâ Táyo ay isang onlayn na timpalak sa pagsulat ng katutubong tulâ. Pangunahing layunin nito na palaganapin ang talino sa pamamagitan ng paglikha ng tulâ na nakasulat sa wikang Filipino na nagpapamalas ng maiglang partisipasyon ng makakata sa ibang rehiyon ng bansa. Bukás ang timpalak sa mga dalít, diyóna, at tanagà na nakasulat sa wikang Filipino na pumapaksa tungkol sa tema ng Buwan ng Panitikan 2026 na Bekët (Bigkis) Panitikan sa Katwiran at Kalikasan.

𝐌𝐠𝐚 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐭ú𝐧𝐢𝐧:

1. Ipapaskil ang mga tulâ—diyóna, dalít, o tanagà—sa seksiyon ng mga komento at sa google form link (gagawin pa lámang) ng nakatalagang poster ng bawat anyo ng tulâ upang maging opisyal na lahok ito. Susundin ang sumusunod na iskedyul para sa pagpapaskil:

2. Magiging opisyal ang mga lahok kapag ipinasok ito sa google form link na matatagpuan sa opisyal na Facebook page ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino.

3. Tatanggap ng mga orihinal na tulâ na nakasulat sa wikang Filipino at nása antas tudlikan. Gawing tema ng tula ang tungkol sa tema ng Buwan ng Panitikan 2026.

4. Tatanggap ng isang libong piso (PHP1,000.00) ang unang sampung (10) magwawagi sa bawat anyo. Ipapaskil sa opisyal na website at social media ng KWF ang mga magwawagi sa bawat anyo ng tula.

5. Pinal at hindi na mababago ang magiging pasiya ng mga hurado ng timpalak.