ENVIRONMENTAL group EcoWaste Coalition on May 19 urged school authorities to ensure that only lead-safe paints are used during the Brigada Eskwela, which will take place from June 1 to 5.
In a statement, the group called on those participating in the school event to “clean up and paint safely, as disturbing old lead-based paints can create hazardous lead dust and chips.”
Brigada Eskwela coordinators are urged to use white, colored and blackboard paints donated by parents, civic groups and private companies that are compliant with Department of Education (DepEd) Order 4, Series of 2017, or the Mandatory Use of Lead-Safe Paints in Schools, as well as Memorandum Circular 85, Series of 2016, or the Use of Lead-Free Paints in School.
“The use of lead-safe paint shall reduce children’s exposure to toxic lead via lead-containing paint and thus, avoid health impacts including learning disabilities, anemia and disorders in coordination, visual, spatial and language skills,” according to DepEd.
EcoWaste told consumers to patronize paint products affiliated with the Philippine Paint & Coatings Association Inc., which include the following brands that recently received Lead Safe Paint certification: Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines Inc. (maker of Boysen, Nation, Titan and Virtuoso Silk paints); Davies Paints Philippines Inc. (Davies paints); Sycwin Coating & Wires Inc. (Purecoat Advance, Purecoat Premium, Guilder and WeatherGard paints); Asian Coatings Philippines Inc. (Rain or Shine, Alpha Chroma, Arkhon, Welcoat, Glasurit, Paralux, Polygloss, Texas, Trans-Lac, Trend and USA paints); Roosevelt Chemical Inc. (Triton, Acri-Lux, Duracoat, Lotus, Primecoat and Rosco paints); FH Colors & Coatings Corp. (A-Plus, Glazer, Hanscoat and Kali paints); and Treasure Island Industrial Corp. (Island, Star and Apollo paints).
A full list of lead-safe paint products can be found on the website of the coalition.