Envi Group Urges PH Government to Prioritize Children's Health and Safety Laws

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As the country commemorates National Poison Prevention Week, environmental NGO BAN Toxics highlights the need to intensify efforts to protect children from exposure to highly hazardous chemicals found in everyday items designed for them, such as toys, school supplies, childcare and personal care products, and clothing.

“Our regular market monitoring and product testing reveal that children’s items containing toxic chemicals remain pervasive and unaddressed. Lead, mercury, cadmium, short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as phthalates, triclosan, and parabens, are among the harmful substances found in consumer products that pose a significant threat to the health of our children. These toxic chemicals are prohibited for use in children’s products, and yet are still found widely available in the market,” said Thony Dizon, BAN Toxics campaign officer.

From 2023 to the first half of this year, BAN Toxics has monitored about 1000 toys and 600 school supplies (bags, lunch bags, water containers, rain gear, pens and pencils, crayons, erasers) available in the market, some of which contain toxic chemicals.

Dizon said that most of the items they tested for toxic chemicals can be purchased cheaply from bargain shops and wholesale stores. “These products typically lack proper information labels, or are mislabeled, and are not regulated.”

Under RA 10620, otherwise known as the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of 2013, toys and games are required to comply with toy labeling information such as the license to operate (LTO) number, age grading, cautionary statements/warnings, instructional literature, manufacturer’s marking, and item model stock-keeping unit (SKU) number.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, BAN Toxics disclosed the results of an Asian survey on the presence of EDCs in children’s care products. The survey, conducted by South Korea-based Wonjin Institute for Occupational & Environmental Health (WIOEH) in 2023, revealed that in three products- a brand of kiddie toothpaste, an infant tooth gel brand, both manufactured in the Philippines, and a baby body wash brand made in China, contained propylparabens (PPs) or butylparabens (BPs).

EDCs have been linked to various negative health effects in children, including impacts on intrauterine growth, changes in neurobehavior, developmental issues, and increased rates of diabetes and metabolic abnormalities.

“BAN Toxics has consistently advocated for the protection of children from hazardous chemicals and has continuously called on regulatory agencies and the general public to take action. Despite the country having established laws and regulations to safeguard Filipino children, there is an urgent need to enhance government efforts in addressing this issue, particularly concerning the unregulated production and import of hazardous children's items,” Dizon said.

Dizon also called on the current administration to prioritize the enactment of a “Safe and Non-Hazardous Children's Products Law” that would further enhance regulation on the importation, manufacture, distribution and sale of children’s toys, school supplies, and childcare products containing hazardous chemicals.

In 2017, House Bill 6702, the "Safe and Non-Hazardous Children's Products Act," was unanimously passed by the 17th Congress. However, the bill was never enacted by the Duterte administration.

“We urge our lawmakers and the Marcos Jr. administration to pursue this legislative agenda once again, as it is clear that not enough is currently being done to protect our children from hazardous chemicals,” Dizon concluded.

On June 27, BAN Toxics will join the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) Toxicology Referral and Training Center for a community outreach activity in Brgy. Sto. Niño, Quezon City. The event aims to emphasize poison prevention at home and in schools, as part of the National Poison Prevention Week activities organized by EAMC. Proclamation No. 1777 issued in 2009 declares the 4th week of June every year as National Poison Prevention Week.

Instituto Cervantes Celebrates Filipino Artist Melecio Figueroa's Enduring Legacy

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Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish Cultural center, is presenting a lecture on Melecio Figueroa, a pioneering Filipino artist, renowned for his profound contributions to both Philippine medallic and numismatic art. The talk, which will be delivered by researcher Gerard Wassily Y. Clavecillas, is scheduled to take place on June 27 at the Makati branch of Instituto Cervantes, at 5:30 p.m.

Melecio Figueroa (1842-1903) was a celebrated and highly decorated scholar of the Spanish artistic tradition, an alumnus of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in San Fernando (Madrid), and a long established bastion and incubator of European creative potential. He was appointed the Chief Engraver of the Manila Mint and was, without a doubt, the Islands’ foremost medallic artist. Becoming a founding father later in life, he was one of the signatories of the first constitution in Asia. Undoubtedly, he was one of the most important Filipino Masters of the 19th century. Tragically, however, compared to his more famous peers, namely Luna and Hidalgo, his legacy has since been relegated to mere historical footnotes, his hard won contributions; forgotten and sadly ignored.

In this lecture, Filipino antiquarian, researcher Gerard Wassily Y. Clavecillas, will discuss Figueroa's remarkable artistic career. The conference will feature a presentation exploring Figueroa's life, art and enduring influence.

The lecture is open to scholars, students, artists, collectors, and anyone with an interest in art history and Filipino culture. Attendees are encouraged to register early through this link: https://forms.office.com/e/D0EHesF1NH

This event is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, with the support of PTC-Philippine Transmarine Carriers. Admission is on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED basis. For more information about this event, visit Instituto Cervantes’ website (http://manila.cervantes.es) or its Facebook page: www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila

Mandatory use of payment reference numbers for SSS housing loan payments starts this June

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The Social Security System (SSS) announced that SSS housing loan mortgagors or borrowers must present a Payment Reference Number (PRN) for their loan payments beginning this month, making it easier for them to pay their housing loans and have it posted on the same day on their loan accounts.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet highlighted that this transition to Real-Time Processing of Loans (RTPL) is designed to enhance the convenience of housing loan borrowers.


Macasaet said that it enables the real-time posting of housing loan payments to individual loan accounts, ensuring a seamless and efficient process.


“The PRN for loans is a system-generated number corresponding to a loan billing statement of the individual loans by the borrower, which contains certain characters to distinguish the housing loan from other SSS loan programs,” he said.


He added that borrowers with outstanding loan obligations in the Direct Individual Housing Loan Program and the Direct Housing Loans for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Workers’ Organization Members, and Trade Union Members (TUM) should have a PRN whenever they pay their loan payments.


SSS Senior Vice President for Lending and Asset Management Group Pedro T. Baoy said that SSS will send a monthly billing containing the PRN to the mortgagors’ registered email addresses and mobile numbers.


“We strongly advise our housing loan borrowers to take responsibility for keeping their contact details with the SSS up-to-date. This will ensure they receive the PRN they need for every housing loan payment transaction, contributing to a smooth and timely payment process,” Baoy emphasized.


Baoy added that borrowers can also get a PRN at the SSS Housing and Acquired Assets Management Department, SSS Investments Accounting Department, or SSS Member Loans Department in the SSS Main Office, Quezon City.


Baoy explained that mortgagors will have one PRN for each outstanding SSS loan. “For example, if a borrower has an original housing loan and a Housing Repair and Improvement Loan, he/she will get two separate PRNs for each loan.”


He said borrowers can obtain the PRN every 10th day of the month, so their PRN for June 2024 will be generated on June 10.


Baoy clarified that once the PRN expires, the borrower needs to get a new PRN that contains the past due and current amounts, noting that an expired PRN will no longer be accepted for payment.


“Mortgagors can pay their monthly housing loan amortizations over the counter at SSS branch offices with tellering services or through SSS-accredited collecting partners such as Union Bank of the Philippines, Philippine National Bank, Bayad Center, and SM Mart, Inc. SSS will notify them through their registered email address and mobile number to confirm their payment and its posting on their accounts,” Baoy said.


As of December 2023, SSS has 3,744 mortgagors with housing loan collectibles amounting to P6.83 billion.