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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 13 provides: 
The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall 
promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-
being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage 
their involvement in public and civic affairs. 
According to the US Enviromnental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollution is one 
of the most pressing personal health concerns of their country. Residues of more than 400 toxic 
chemicals - some found in household products and food - have been identified in human blood 
and fat tissue. l EPA's Office of Research and Development's "Total Exposure Assessment 
Methodology (TEAM) Study" found levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants to be 
two to five times higher indoors than outside, regardless of whether the homes were located in 
rural or highly industrial areas. TEAM studies indicated that while people are using products 
containing organic chemicals, they can expose themselves and others to very high pollutant 
levels, and elevated concentrations can persist in the air long after the activity is completed.2 
Many common household cleaning products contain dangerous ingredients such as 
caustics or solvents, which when used, stored or disposed of improperly are health hazards. 
Caustic chemicals such as those found in oven cleaners (lye, sodium hydroxide), drain cleaners, 
scouring powders, or bleach can cause burns and severe dan1age to the skin and eyes. Solvents 
are fast-drying substances that dissolve another substance. Inhalation of these vapors or 
accidental drinking can be harmful or even fatal. Long-term exposure to some solvents may 
cause liver and kidney problems, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, and cancer. 
1 http://www.healthy-communications.com/factsoncal.cinogensathome.htm 1 
2 http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html 
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Furniture polish, silver cleaner, paint remover and wood floor wax contain solvents.3 Consumer 
cleaning products like laundry detergents, all-purpose sprays, dish soaps, and scrub sponges 
often smell like pleasant things found in nature, but their ingredients pose dangers to health. 
According to a new study conducted by the University of Washington, many scented cleaning 
products contain mystery chemicals not listed on their labels that are toxic to health. A team of 
researchers from the university tested a variety of consumer cleaning products and found that 25 
of the most frequently used scented products contained an average of 17 hazardous chemicals 
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. 
VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse 
health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors than outdoors. 
VOCs aTe emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. This includes 
cleaning supplies. Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products. 
Many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby products contain organic solvents. 
All of these products can release organic compounds while you are using them, and, to some 
degree, when they are stored. 
Children are more sensitive because they are still developing their basic body systems. 
The brain, internal organs, respiratory, and immune systems are not fully developed until 
adolescence. In Canada, respiratory illness is now the leading cause of admission to the hospital 
for children. Childhood asthma has jumped by 400 percent. After injuries, cancer is now the 
leading cause of death in children between the ages of five and nine. 5 
This bill proposes to protect the health of students, custodial staff, and other building 
occupants by requiring the use of safe cleaning products in schools. 
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MIRIAM DEF 
SOR SiNTiA¢o 
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J University of Florida website, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/he791 
4 http://www.naturalnews.com/030570cleaningproductstoxins.htm! 
5 http://www.health-report.co.uk/toxichouseholdchemicals.htm 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 2962 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF STUDENTS BY REQUIRING 
THE USE OF SAFE CLEANING PRODUCTS IN SCHOOLS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Safe Cleaning Products in 
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Schools Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote and protect 
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the physical well-being of the youth recognizing their vital role in nation-building. 
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SECTION 3. Definitions. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
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(1) 
"Air freshener" means an aerosol spray, liquid deodorizer, plug-in product, para-
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di-chlorobenzene block, scented urinal screen, or other product used to mask odors or freshen the 
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air in a room. 
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(2) 
"Antimicrobial pesticides" means a pesticide that is intended to: 
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(A) disinfect, sanitize, reduce, or mitigate growth or development of a 
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microbiological organism; or 
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(B) protect inanimate objects, industrial processes or systems, surfaces, water, or 
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other chemical substances from contamination, fouling, or deterioration caused 
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by bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, algae or slime. 
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(3) 
"Cleaning product" means an institutional compound intended for routine 
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cleaning, including antimicrobial pesticides, general purpose cleaners, bathroom cleaners, glass 
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cleaners, carpet cleaners, floor care products, and hand soaps. 
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(4) 
"Property manager" shall refer to the employee of a school who has supervisory 
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and decision making authority with regard to the sanitary and physical condition of school 
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property, including authority over cleaning product purchases. 
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(5) 
"Disinfectant" means substances or mixtures of substances used on hard 
inanimate surfaces and objects to destroy or irreversibly inactivate infectious fungi and bacteria 
but not necessarily their spores. 
(6) 
"Environmentally preferable cleaning product" means a cleaning product that has 
a less negative effect on human health and the environment when compared to competing 
products serving the same purpose. 
(7) 
"Green cleaning" means a practice that includes the use of a cleaning product 
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certified as enviromnentally preferable by an independent third party entity, best practices that 
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follow accepted management standards and improve indoor air quality, and equipment that 
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facilitates effective cleaning. 
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(8) (A) "Independent third party" refers to a nationally recognized organization that has 
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developed a program for the purpose of certifying environmentally preferable cleaning products. 
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The certification program shall: 
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(i) 
define a manufacturer's certification fees; 
(ii) 
identify any potential conflicts of interest; 
(iii) base certification on considerations of human health and safety, ecological 
toxicity, other environmental impacts, and resource conservation as appropriate 
for the product and its packaging on a life-cycle basis; 
(iv) develop certification standards in an open, public and transparent manner that 
involves the public and key stakeholders; 
(v) periodically revise and update the standards to remain consistent with the current 
research about the impacts of chemicals on human health; 
(vi) monitor and enforce the standards for the purpose of certification, and have the 
authority to inspect the manufacturing facility and periodically to do so, and 
have a registered or legally protected certification mark; and 
(vii) make the standards easily accessible to purchasers and manufacturers; or 
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(B) 
In the alternative, "independent third party" means any organization otherwise 
deemed by the DENR to satisfactorily assess and certify environmentally preferable cleaning 
products. In the absence of an independent third party, the certification shall be undertaken by 
the Environmental Management Bureau ofthe DENR. 
(9) 
"School" shall refer to preschools, primal'Y and secondary schools both public and 
private. 
SECTION 4. Environmentally preferable cleaning product. - A school shall ensure that 
only envirolIDlentally preferable cleaning products are used to clean their premises. The property 
manager shall use cleaning products certified as environmentally preferable by an independent 
third party as defined in Section 4 of this Act. A school may nse cleaning products purchased 
within two (2) years from the approval of this Act even if they are not certified as 
environmentally preferable. 
SECTION 5. Exceptions. -
A school may temporarily use non-environmentally 
preferable disinfectant in the following cases: 
(1) 
(2) 
Blood, body fluids, or fecal soiling is present on any surface; or 
The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources makes a case-specific 
determination that failure to use non-environmentally preferable disinfectants would create a risk 
to public health and safety. 
SECTION 6. Air fresheners. - A school shall not purchase or allow the use of air 
fresheners in its premises. 
SECTION 7. Creation of a school environmental health website. - The Secretaries of 
Environment and Natural Resources, Health, and Education shall jointly create and jointly 
update as necessary an electronic school environmental health clearinghouse site on the website 
of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), including diagnostic 
checklists and searchable databases. This website shall include: 
(1) 
Information on materials and practices in common use in school operations and 
construction that may compromise indoor ail' quality or negatively impact human health; 
(2) 
Information on potential health problems associated with these materials, with 
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specific reference to children's vulnerability; 
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(3) 
Information on integrated pest management and alternatives to chemical pest 
control; 
(4) 
Information on methods to reduce or eliminate exposure to potentially hazardous 
substances in schools, including the following: 
(5) 
(A) A list of preventive management options, such as ventilation, equipment 
upkeep, design strategies, and performance standards; 
(B) A list of nontoxic or least-toxic office and classroom supplies, building 
equipment, and materials and furnishings; and 
(C) 
A list of environmental health criteria that schools may use as a decision-
making tool when determining what materials to purchase or use in school 
construction or operations. 
Information on environmentally preferable cleaning products certified by an 
independent third party including a list of these products and procedures for using them. 
SECTION 8. Review. -
The Secretaries of Environment and Natural Resources, 
Education, and Health shall: 
(1) 
Review the information on the school environmental health information 
clearinghouse at least twice yearly, and update it whenever significant developments occur. 
(2) 
At the request of school officials, assist school environmental health coordinators 
to identify potential sources of environmental pollution in the school, and make 
recommendations on how to alleviate any problems. 
(3) 
Annually, organize a school environmental workshop for school environment 
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health coordinators and school administrators, and an annual training for school maintenance and 
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property staff. Each workshop and training shall include instruction on green cleaning practices. 
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The department shall issue certificates of training to participants who successfully complete the 
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workshops. 
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(4) 
Publicize the availability of information through the school environmental health 
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clearinghouse. 
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(5) 
Provide information and referrals to members of school communities who contact 
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the school environmental health clearinghouse with hazardous exposure and indoor air concerns. 
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(6) 
Assist elementary and secondary schools to establish school environment health 
programs to address indoor air and hazardous exposure issues. 
(7) 
Report annually to the house and the senate committees on education on the 
extent of indoor air and hazardous exposure problems in schools and the percentage of schools 
that have established a school environmental health program or qualified for environmental 
health certification. 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, execntive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regnlation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION II. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
labg 080911 
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