Baguio teachers act to eliminate toxic substances in schools

COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

Angelica C. Pago

BAGUIO CITY --  After undergoing a training-workshop given by Manila-based environmental NGO BAN Toxics, more than 50 public schoolteachers in Baguio City created their own action plans to eliminate the use of toxic substances in schools.

The teachers participated in the two-day training and workshop, held August 2 and 3 here at Fort del Pilar Elementary School.

The training was conducted under the Toxics-Free Schools Program (TFSP) through a partnership between BAN Toxics and the Department of Education (DepEd).

         

The teachers created an action plan on how to integrate the concepts of a toxics-free school plan to their lessons. The action plan not only covered science subjects, but also non-science subjects such as English, Filipino, Physical Education, and even Music, among others.

The output will be forwarded to the DepEd as reference materials for the development of a teachers’ manual as supplemental material for teaching their respective subjects.

“We believe that the teachers and school personnel have big roles in disseminating information and raising awareness, especially to sensitive issues such as toxic poisoning,” said Misael Santos, Mercury Projects Coordinator of Ban Toxics, who also facilitated the workshop.

“They are the school’s first line of defense so it is imperative that they know what to do in case of toxic contamination,” Santos added.

Toxic substances abound in schools, causing harm and exposing schoolchildren to great danger without them knowing it. The seminar highlighted the “Fearsome Five” toxins commonly found in schools, namely mercury, lead, asbestos, cadmium, and arsenic.

Because toxic substances can be found in items and materials normally used by children such as crayons, markers, and school bags, children are exposed to harm on a daily basis.

            

One serious case of mercury contamination happened in 2006 in Paranaque City, when a science teacher brought a sample of mercury in the classroom. The flask containing the mercury broke during the experiment, exposing some 80 students to high levels of mercury during the accident.

The accident caused the temporary closure of the school and hospitalization of the students in the class.

“We recognize the importance of this training because this empowers us as teachers to protect our students from unnecessary harm. As administrators, it is our responsibility to keep our schools safe from all kinds of danger, especially from these invisible yet highly dangerous toxic substances,” said Julia Ladiong, principal of Fort del Pilar Elementary School.

Other schools that participated in the training are Kias Elementary School, Bakakeng Elementary School, Pinget Elementary School, and Lindawan Elementary School. Some parents of Fort del Pilar Elementary School students also joined the activity.

The TFSP engages the school community to be more aware and vigilant against these toxic substances that are present in our environment. It also promotes solutions and alternatives that the school can use to avoid, or gradually phase-out and minimize the health and environmental risks.

Founded in 2006, Ban Toxics! (BT) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of environmental and social justice. 

Working closely with government agencies, partner communities and other NGOs in both the local and international levels, BAN Toxics endeavors to reduce and eliminate the use of harmful toxins through education campaigns, training and awareness-raising, and policy-building and advocacy programs.