DEPED- ARMM RELEASES 4,000 CHAIRS, TABLES IN SULU
COTABATO CITY: The Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ( DepEd- ARMM) distributed 4,000 brand new armchairs for students and tables for teachers in various public schools, including a Badjao school, in Sulu. DepEd- ARMM secretary John Amil Magno personally inspected the armchairs and teacher’s tables delivered in Zamboanga city prior to its transfer to Jolo. “I wanted to ensure that the 4,000 plus chairs are all accounted for and delivered to the different recipient schools in Sulu,” Magno said. Meanwhile, Fheng Salialam Sakandal, a teacher assigned in a Badjao community in Sulu said she is glad that Badjao Primary school is one of the recipients of the student chairs and teacher tables. The teachers of Sulu were among those who happily celebrated Teacher’s Day on Thursday.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS UNITE TO FIGHT DEPRESSION
FOLLOWING the death of a Grade 12 student who jumped from the 7th floor of their school last week because of depression, a stage play this Sunday at the University of Southern Philippines Theater Arts to portray its cause and effects, particularly on teenage victims. Students from public and private schools in Cebu City and the province will also undergo depression seminar about this kind of unusual behavior that can be treated through a series of
CEBUANOS WARNED AGAINST MERCURY- LACED WHITENING CREAMS
ENVIRONMENTAL watchdog EcoWaste Coalition warned Cebuanos seeking fairer skin complexion to watch out for cosmetics that may do more harm than lighten the skin. The group issued the warning after purchasing 11 unregistered skin whitening cosmetics for P60 to P130 each from various retail outlets in Cebu City. Thony Dizon, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect, said the test buys were part of their advocacy to stop the illegal trade of dangerous cosmetics containing mercury, a highly toxic chemical that is harmful to public health and the environment. Seven of the 11 skin whitening cosmetics, all bearing the Jiaoli and S’Zitang brands, were found to contain high concentrations of mercury above the trace amount limit of 1 part per million ( ppm) as per the Asean Cosmetic Directive. Jiaoli Miraculous Cream and S’Zitang, both banned by the Food and Drug Administration since 2010, were found laced with mercury of 2,809 and 2,739 ppm, respectively. The non- notified products or not subjected to verification were Erna Whitening Cream, Cai Mei Sheep Placenta Whitening Foundation Cream, Cai Mei Sheep Placenta Anti- Wrinkle Cream and Cai Mei Sheep Placenta Moisturizing Cream. The group also urged the local government, health and police authorities in Cebu City to go after the distributors and dealers of contraband cosmetics.