Labor group bats for asbestos ban

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s largest labor group is proposing a ban on the importation and use of asbestos to protect construction workers from cancer and other health hazards.

Gerard Seno, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) executive vice president, said their representative in Congress has re-filed a proposed measure imposing a total ban on asbestos.  

“Banning asbestos is the way to go if we want to protect our workers and the general population from first-hand and secondary exposure,” Seno said.

Under the bill re-filed by TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza, the ban will take effect a year after the enactment of the measure.

The proposed bill requires building owners and contractors to demolish buildings containing asbestos.

Once approved, violators will be fined P100,000 to P1 million or imprisonment of not less than three months but not more than three years.

An estimated 1.3 million Filipino workers in construction and general industry are exposed to asbestos dust every day, Seno said.