Yesterday a house panel approved a bill that would ban all use of asbestos and asbestos-containing products.  The bill would prohibit importation, manufacture, processing, use and distribution of asbestos.  The asbestos ban will need to be approved by the plenary before implementation.  Legislators are pushing to come to a resolution on this bill before the close of this year’s Congress.  Supporters feel an urgent need to move swiftly to reduce continued exposure risks.

Currently, the Philippines have banned the use of brown (amosite) and blue (crosilodite) asbestos.  The new bill will include white (chrysolite) asbestos which continues to be used in fire proofing products, roofing felts, asbestos cement roofing and flat sheets.

Advocates spoke about the long term consequences of asbestos exposure including mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases.  They also discussed second hand exposure risks to families of workers who are exposed to asbestos.

I applaud the Philippines and their efforts to work towards a full ban of asbestos.  I hope other countries continue to take action resulting in a global asbestos ban and decrease in amount of people affected by deadly asbestos.

Complete story – House panel approves bill seeking to ban use of asbestos