SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Luzon is in a quandary on where to dump hospital devices and other wastes such as busted fluorescent lights containing mercury.
Raldy Pagador of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) said the disposal of thermometers which have been replaced by digital ones in hospitals has become a problem as no disposal system for such wastes has yet been put in place in Central Luzon.
He said the junking of all hospital devices containing the toxic mercury is in accordance with an order from the Department of Health.
He said DOH Administrative Order 08-21 orders the gradual phaseout of mercury in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions.
Hospitals and rural health centers have begun disposing of thermometers and other items with mercury, he said.
The DOH has noted that short-term exposure to high concentrations of mercury vapor can cause harmful effects to the nervous, digestive and respiratory systems, and the kidneys. In most cases, exposure occurred when mercury is heated.
With thermometers still stocked up in hospitals and other health facilities in the region, the DENR is looking for a site where these could at least be temporarily stored, as no funds are yet available for the expensive treatment of mercury wastes.
“The storage may be a warehouse or an unused building with at least 60 square meters of floor area. It should not be located near schools, residential areas, frequented public places or agricultural fields. It should be at least 500 meters away from bodies of water,” Pagador said.
He said some private establishments in Central Luzon have funding allocations to dispose of their industrial devices such as fluorescents and bulbs and other items containing mercury by having them treated by the private company Dolomatrix, located in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Mercury-containing wastes at Clark Freeport are also reportedly handled by Dolomatrix. –Ding Cervantes (The Philippine Star)
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
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 #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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