CEBU, Philippines – A bill that prohibits the importation, manufacture, processing, use or distribution of asbestos, which is commonly used in shipping and construction industries, has been filed in Congress last week.
House Bill 6544, or the Ban Asbestos Act of 2009, also seeks the demolition of buildings containing asbestos, conduct of public education, institutionalization of health and safety program, and creation of an inter-agency technical advisory council.
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines Representative Raymond C. Mendoza, the author of the bill, wants the Department of Health to conduct a study on asbestos.
Asbestos poses high risk of contaminating exposed workers because the fibers deeply penetrated into the lungs when inhaled. Even their families are at risk.
The International Association for Research on Cancer classified asbestos as the highest cancer-hazard substance. Diseases associated with asbestos include lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis with a latency period of 10 to 40 years.
Most exposed workers are those in shipping (shipbuilding, ship repair, ship breaking, and boiler work) and those in building and construction (plumbers, insulators, carpenters, pipe fitters, electricians, autoworkers, insulators, sheet metal workers, and other construction workers).
The public is also at risk because of exposure to houses, buildings and workplaces built with asbestos-containing materials. — Johanna T. Natavio/LPM (THE FREEMAN)
It’s women’s month!
“Support women every day of the year!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and Made-in-the-Philippines
Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
Mar 4— Employee Appreciation Day
Mar 15 — World Consumer Rights Day
Mar 18 — Global Recycling Day
Mar 21 — International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Mar 23 — International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
Mar 25 — International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Mar 27 — Earth Hour
