Authorities urged to look into reports that some school supplies being sold in Divisoria contain lead

Shopping in Divisoria. Photo courtesy of Novakistan.com

MANILA — An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is urging the authorities to look into reports that some school supplies being sold in Divisoria, Manila allegedly contain lead.

“I would like to say that the government is the first line of defense to protect us consumers.

This way, the public interest is upheld and not taken advantage of by others and not compromised,” said Father Kunegundo Garganta, executive secretary, CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth, in a text message.

The Catholic priest is reacting on the report of an environmental group that a water color brand being sold in Manila contains lead.

Garganta said he is hoping that authorities will look into the report to safeguard the safety of the public, especially young students.

“May all the responsible government agencies act swiftly without passing the burden to the parents,” the CBCP official added.

The EcoWaste Coalition reported that experts found elevated amounts of lead in the coloring material brand “Artex Fine Water Colors.”

The product is being sold at P65 to P68 per set and tested positive for up to 37,000 parts per million (ppm) of the toxic chemical, the environmental protection group said.

Lead is a poisonous chemical which causes permanent cognitive and behavioral problems.