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)
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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