The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday signed a “solidarity statement” that indicated their commitment to push for lead and mercury-safe schools.
In a signing ceremony conducted at Commonwealth Elementary School in Quezon City, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the statement also showed the stakeholders’ agreement to promote and uphold lead and mercury safe schools, specifically “by using lead safe paints and by switching to mercury-free alternatives towards a toxic-free, zero waste educational system.”
The statement was signed by Paje and EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux. Also in attendance were senior officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH) , as well as 200 kids, parents, local government officials, doctors, and environmentalists.
The efforts to eliminate lead especially from paint products is part of the P80-million Asian Lead Paint Elimination Project, being implemented in seven countries in Asia including the Philippines. The project is funded by the EU.
Other beneficiaries of the project are Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka. The EcoWaste Coalition is the leading project partner in the Philippines.
The CCO set the standard content of lead for locally produced paints at 90 parts per million (ppm), the current standard for lead decorative paints in the United States.
The CCO also “strictly prohibits the use of lead and lead compounds in the local manufacture of packaging for food and drink, toys, school supplies, cosmetics, water pipes and other consumer products.”
The order also reiterates the ban on the use lead as fuel additive.
“We want to enable our paint industry to shift to lead-free production. There is now a global action for the elimination of lead in paints, and certainly this CCO is our way of showing our oneness with this advocacy,” Paje said in a statement.
Paje also called on school administrations to observe stricter policies when in comes to chemical safety.
“Chemical safety and security must be a priority of the schools. May this undertaking inspire more schools to commit towards lead and mercury-safe school environments for Filipino children,” he said.
Lead and mercury are highly toxic chemicals known for causing lifelong and irreversible damage to a child’s brain and health even at low levels of exposure. Childhood exposure to lead, in particular, has been blamed for reduced intelligence as measured by decreased IQ points, prompting health experts to recognize “lead caused mental retardation” as a disease.
Ledoux meanwhile lauded the DENR’s efforts to address the problem of lead-exposure, especially on children.
“The country’s ongoing switch to non-lead paint production is key to protecting the health of children and other vulnerable populations from the debilitating effects of lead exposure,” Ledoux said.
“A school environment that is safe from lead and other harmful chemicals will have a positive impact on children’s health and their potential to grow, develop and succeed in life,” he added.
For her part, Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition suggested to make the use of lead-safe paints mandatory in all schools.
“We hope DepEd can make it mandatory for all schools to require only lead safe paints for paint purchases and donations. This will effectively curb children’s exposure to leaded paint chip and dust and bring about improved IQ, enhanced school performance and economic success later in life,” Lucero said, citing a recent scientific study that calculated the economic impact of childhood lead exposure in low and middle-income countries at P42 trillion per year.
