‘Ensure school supplies without hazardous content’

With the opening of classes already fast approaching, the Cebu Provincial Board requested the Provincial Health Office and the Department of Trade and Industry to take measures to prevent the sale of school supplies containing potentially hazardous materials.

In a resolution sponsored by Board Member Miguel Antonio Magpale during their session last Monday, the legislative body passed a resolution formalizing such a request.

“With the expected increase of demand for school supplies as the opening of the school year approaches, unscrupulous suppliers and distributors may flood the market with school supplies with hazardous or toxic materials,” Magpale said.

“This poses a grave health risk to school children and may pose long-term health complications if not mitigated or supervise,” he added.

Before the opening of classes May last year, the Food and Drugs Administration issued an advisory recalling a locally-manufactured Artex Fine Water Colors for containing high levels of lead which exceed the maximum tolerable limit.

The “Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds” issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 2013, prohibits the using of lead in the production of school supplies and toys.

The PB has also directed the Provincial Engineering Office to help in ensuring the safety at pedestrian crossings and sidewalks located near public elementary and high schools in the province.

The PB noted the report of Pedestrian Safety Philippines (PedSafePH) group that pedestrians are 1.5 times more prone to be killed in a car accident because 84 percent of roads in the Philippines do not have sidewalks and “there is a widespread lack of respect” to the road right of way at pedestrian crossings.

Around 1 million people die in road accidents every year worldwide and more than 50 million are injured, said PedSafePH.

“The issue on the safety at pedestrian crossings and sidewalks near schools should be of paramount importance,” the PB said.

The body cited the Land Transportation and Traffic Code which mandates the driver of any vehicle to yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing, “except at intersections where the movement of traffic is being regulated by a peace officer or by traffic signal.” —