Philippine update: House of Representatives to discuss asbestos ban bills

[dtuvera]

The House Committee on Ecology will hold a meeting on 16 March 2011 to discuss House Bill Nos. 479 and 896. The Bills seek to ban the importation, manufacture, processing, use or distribution in commerce of asbestos and asbestos-containing products. 

This will be the first discussion of the bills in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, since the 15th Congress opened in July 2010. We expect the chrysotile industry to oppose the measures so we need to exert pressure on the Committee on Ecology, particularly on the Committee Chair, to pass HB Nos. 479 and 896. 

Both bills were based on the bill prepared by the Associated Labor Unions (ALU), Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP). The bills differ from the period of effectivity ( 2 years after the passage of the law for HB No. 479, 3 years for HB No. 896) of the ban and the penal provisions in case of violations.

Urge the House Committee on Ecology to pass the bills

Please send the email below to the Committee Chair, Congressman Dan Fernandez, urging the passage of the bills through the following steps:

1. Click your forward button
2. Enter kura...@gmail.com, email address of Cong. Fernandez as recipient
3. CC dtu...@gmail.com or this e-group
4. Change the subject to Please pass the bills banning asbestos!
5. Delete texts above and below the email message
6. Type in your name, organization, city and country
7. Send the email!

Send this email to the Chair of the Committee on Ecology

HON. DANILO RAMON S. FERNANDEZ

Chairperson, Committee on Ecology

Rm. N-116, House of Representatives, Quezon City

Phone: 632 931-5001 local 7335, 931 5369

Email: kura...@gmail.com

Dear Honorable Congressman Fernandez:

I urge the Committee on Ecology to pass House Bill Nos. 479 and 896 during the Committee meeting on March 16, 2011. The Bills seek to ban the importation, manufacture, processing, use or distribution in commerce of asbestos and asbestos-containing products. 

Asbestos is a danger to everyone because asbestos fibers penetrate deep into the lungs when inhaled. Asbestos causes incurable diseases even with minimal exposure, say independent studies and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). 

The more asbestos ban is delayed, the more workers, their families and the public are at risk due to asbestos containing materials in houses, buildings and workplaces. The Bills seek to minimize hazards to health and safety of workers, their families and the public due to asbestos exposure. 

I appreciate the House of Representatives’ efforts to address issues on health, including asbestos.

Respectfully,

Your Name

Your Designation

Your Organization

Your City/Country

Forward this message 

After sending the email to Cong. Fernandez, go back to this email and forward it to your contacts. The more people sending emails to Cong. Fernandez before March 16, the more chances we have of having the bills passed. 

Thank you.

Dominador M. Tuvera
Campaign Officer
Associated Labor Unions (ALU) - TUCP

Tel.: +632 922 2575; Cell.: +63 927 8095221
Email: dtu...@gmail.com

You can help! Urge the Philippine Senate to pass the bill banning asbestos.