Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Reguiar Session

“H.B.No.__617

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution in Article 2, Section 13 provides that:

Section 13. 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.

Last February 2006, St. Andrew's School in Paranaque City faced closure following the
complaint of parents of students exposed to mercury. A total of 19 students were confined at the
Philippine General Hospital (PGH) while other parents said their children are beginning to
develop rashes in different parts of the body. Some 35 students were exposed to mercury when
a student accidentally opened a beaker containing mercury.

Mercury is a heavy, silvery d-block metal, and is one of six elements that are liquid at or
near room temperature and pressure. Mercury and most of its compounds are extremely toxic,
and are generally handled with care; in cases of spills involving mercury (such as from certain
thermometers or fluorescent light bulbs) specific cleaning procedures are used to avoid toxic
exposure. It can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes, so
containers of mercury are securely sealed to avoid spills and evaporation.

The dangers of mercury spills cannot be overlooked. A study has shown that acute
exposure (4-8 hours) to calculated elemental mercury levels of 1.1 to 44 mg/m3 resulted in
chest pain, dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, impairment of pulmonary function, and evidence of
interstitial pneumonitis.

Acute exposure to mercury vapor has been shown to result in profound central nervous,
system effects, including psychotic reactions characterized by delirium, hallucinations, and
suicidal tendency. Occupational exposure has resulted in broad-ranging functional disturbance,
including erethism, irritability, excitability, excessive shyness, and insomnia. With continuing


exposure, a fine tremor develops and may escalate to violent muscular spasms. Tremor initially
involves the hands and later spreads to the eyelids, lips, and tongue. Long-term, low-level
exposure has been associated with more subtle symptoms of erethism, including fatigue,
irritability, loss of memory, vivid dreams, and depression.

This bill aims to prevent the accidental elemental mercury spills in schools to protect our
school children from the adverse effects of mercury spills.

JUAN EDG: “SONNY” M. ANGARA

Lone District, Province of Aurora


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

fie’, 617

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
BANNING AND PROHIBITING THE USE, PURCHASE AND STORAGE OF ELEMENTAL
MERCURY IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Safe Schools Mercury Reduction
Act of 2010,”

SEC. 2, Declaration of Policy. — it shall be the policy of the State to protect its citizens from the
effects of toxic chemical substances that present unreasonable risk and/or injury to health or the
environment by prohibiting the use, purchase and storage of mercury and mércury instruments
in all public and private schools and other educational institutions.

SEC. 3. Elimination of the Use of Elemental Mercury. ~ Except as otherwise provided in this
section, no public or private schoo! or educational institution in the country shall purchase, use
or store any quantity of free flowing elemental mercury for any purpose, nor purchase, use or
store any instrument which contains mercury including, but not limited to, thermometers,
barometers, sphygmomanometers and manometers. If no reasonably acceptable mercury-free
alternative exists for any instrument prohibited under this Act, a school or educational institution
may use such type of instrument as long as it contains the lowest mercury content readily
available in the market.

SEC. 4. Penalties. — Any person or entity who shail violate any provision of this Act shall,,upon
conviction, be meted the penalty of not less than five (5) years of imprisonment or a fine of not
less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not more than One million pesos
(P1,000,000.00) or both such imprisonment and fine, at the discretion of the court, if the
violation resulted to injury to health.

In case of death, the penalties imposable under the Revised Penal Code shall be imposed upon
the violators.


SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of the Department of Health,
in consultation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of
Education and the Commission on Higher Education, shall issue and promulgate the rules and
regulations needed to implement the provisions of this Act which shall require public and private
schools and other educational institutions in the country to dispose of or recycle any quantity of
elemental mercury and instruments containing mercury in a manner which is least Harmful to the
environment and in accordance with prescribed international standards. The said agencies shall
compile, produce and distribute to all public and private schools and other educational
institutions in the country, materials explaining the hazards associated with the exposure to
elemental mercury and the actions that may be taken to reduce such hazards.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. — |f, for any reason, any part of or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, such parts not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. — Any \aw, executive order, letter of instruction, rule and regulation,
circular, issuance or any part thereof inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act is hereby

repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation,

Approved,