Manila, Philippines (16 March 2011) – The House of Representatives Committee on Ecology approved House Bill Nos. 479 and 896. The approval came after the bill authors agreed to an amendment addressing installed asbestos-containing materials in houses and buildings. A Technical Working Group (TWG) tasked to consolidate the bills would craft the amendment.
The amendment was proposed in reply to the question raised by Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez on what to do with asbestos installed in houses and buildings with the understanding that those structures would be demolished or asbestos materials be removed once a ban is implemented.
In her sponsorship speech on HB No. 479, Akbayan Party-List Representative Kaka Bag-Ao urged the passage of the bill as the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) call for stopping the use of all types of asbestos as the most efficient way to eliminate asbestos related diseases. She said that in the Philippines, the 11th National Occupational Safety and Health Congress in October 2008 called for a total ban on asbestos.
In his sponsorship speech on HB No. 896, TUCP Party-List Representative Raymond Democrito Mendoza emphasized the urgency of banning asbestos. The three-year phase out period in the bill would give stakeholders time to switch to safer substitutes of asbestos and alternatives to asbestos-containing materials. A central registry would track exposed workers and determine their health situation through medical surveillance for early detection and treatment.
Representative Mendoza said that more than 50 countries with different levels of economic development have banned asbestos, including chrysotile. Canada, which is the source of 90% of Philippine asbestos imports, has virtually banned asbestos use within its territory and spending millions of dollars to replace asbestos containing materials in its parliament, schools and other buildings. Canada exports 95% of its mined chrysotile asbestos to developing countries such as the Philippines.
Engr. Ana Rivera from the Department of Health (DOH) echoed the position of the WHO on eliminating asbestos related diseases. She said the DOH would conduct training for physicians to enhance their capacity to diagnose asbestos related diseases and compile data when asked on the issue.
Ms. Emmanuelita Mendoza of the Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR) expressed concerns for improvements of the bills but did not mention any objection to banning asbestos. Dr. Roger Berosil from Earthsavers Movement mentioned the strict limitations on using asbestos in Canada and the USA and compensating people with asbestos diseases in the USA.
No other persons or organizations were able to express their positions on the bills as the Committee moved to approve the same.
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Dominador M. Tuvera
Campaign Officer
Associated Labor Unions (ALU) - TUCP
Tel.: +632 922 2575; Cell.: +63 927 8095221Campaign Officer
Associated Labor Unions (ALU) - TUCP
Email: dtuvera@gmail.com
