Beware of toxin in some plastic cutlery, kitchen utensils–watchdog

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

ALOCAL toxics watchdog on Sunday raised concern over the detection of bromine in some black plastic cutlery and kitchen utensils being sold in Metro Manila.

According to the group EcoWaste Coalition, the items may contain bromine, a component of toxic brominated flame retardant (BFR) chemicals linked to a number of adverse health effects such as interference with the body’s normal hormone functions, a test buy conducted by the group revealed.

I n test buys conducted from February 19 to 21, the EcoWaste Coalition collected 45 assorted cutlery and kitchen utensils sold in retail stores in Caloocan, Manila and Quezon Cities. Items made of black plastic were chosen as other studies have found BFRs in such products.

A mong the items purchased and checked for bromine content using an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer were black plastic ladles, skimmers, spaghetti servers, spatulas, turners, spoons and others.

B ased on the XRF screening results, samples of big and small reusable black plastic spoons had 27,170 and 2,225 parts per million (ppm) of bromine, respectively, while a small soup ladle had 1,758 ppm. A disposable black plastic spoon contained 139 ppm of bromine.

A lso, 10 black plastic kitchen utensils were found to contain 119 to 864 ppm of bromine, in -

South Korea regained its prepandemic rank as the top source market for tourists, accounting for some 28 percent of total arrivals, or 185,087. It was followed by the United States at 129,591 (19 percent of total); Canada at 35,693 (5.25 percent); Australia at 33,915 (4.99 percent); Japan at 24,763 (3.64 percent); Taiwan at 23,254 (3.42 percent); United Kingdom at 18,697 (2.75 percent); China at 15,879 (2.34 percent); Singapore at 14,817 (2.18 percent); and Hong Kong at 11,883 (1.75 percent).

New Zealand was ranked no. 22 with arrivals at 3,409, accounting for 0.50 percent of total tourists during the period.

‘Don’t travel to Sulu’

MEANWHILE , the New Zealand government has also kept its Level 4 warning, telling its citizens, “Do not travel to central and west - ern Mindanao (including the Sulu archipelago) due to the very high threat of terrorist activity, kidnapping and violent clashes between the military/police and terrorist or rebel groups.” Some lawmakers recently took issue with a Hollywood movie for allegedly portraying residents of Jolo, Sulu as Islamic separatist rebels.

In addition, the MFAT advises citizens to “Avoid non-essential travel to the remaining provinces of Mindanao due to the threat of terrorism, kidnapping and violent clashes between the military/police and terrorist or rebel groups (level 3 of 4).”

Tourist Nicholas Peter Stacey, 34, was walking along Filmore St. in Makati City with his girlfriend Pamela Villanoza, in the early hours of February 19, when one man alighted a motorcycle to rob the latter. Stacey tried to intervene but was shot in the ensuring scuffle. The assailant and his companion were able to speed away with items owned by Villanoza.

T he DOT condemned Stacey’s killing and said it was working with authorities to immediately resolve the matter and ensure the safety of tourists in the country.

(See, “DOT working with PNP, other government agencies to ensure safety of tourists,” in the BusinessMirror , February 23, 2023.) The alleged gunman has since surrendered to authorities.

Speaker calls for emergency meeting with PNP, DILG on high-profile crimes

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G.

Romualdez called the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the spate of high-profile crimes in the country.

R omualdez, in a statement, expressed concern that almost every week there is news about highprofile killings. We want to know from the PNP and the DILG what steps are being taken to stop these kinds of heinous crimes,” he said.

“Politics appears to be the motive behind the recent ambuscades because many of the victims are politicians,” he said.

R omualdez wanted to know how Congress can help in solving these crimes.

“ We will ask the police and the DILG, what’s the problem? Is it intelligence?” said Romualdez.

Recently, a mayor of Maguindanao was severely wounded in an ambush in Pasay City.

L ast February, a business couple and their companions in the car were fired upon in Pasay City.

A lso this February, the vice mayor of Aparri, Cagayan was shot and killed in an ambush.

L anao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong was also attacked, but survived the ambush in Maguindanao earlier this February, even as four of his police escorts were killed. He has hinted that his tough war on illegal drugs may be behind the attack.

NEA asks DOJ to probe former Beneco execs for ‘possible’ crimes

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

THE National Electrification Administration (NEA) has asked the Justice department to probe “the possible criminal acts and/or other irregularities” allegedly committed by former members of the board of directors and management officials of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco).

I n a letter to Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla last February 21, NEA cluding a slotted turner (with 864 ppm), ladle (482 ppm), and a soup ladle (236 ppm).

In most cases, bromine was detected along with antimony (a component of antimony trioxide which is a common flame retardant synergist) as well as lead (a heavy metal additive or a contaminant). The detection of bromine in some cutlery and kitchen utensils being sold locally is a red flag,” Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition said in a statement.

Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda apprised the DOJ about the result of the motu proprio investigations it conducted.

L ast January, the NEA ordered the removal of Beneco’s Board of Directors based on findings of long-standing irregularities in the management of Beneco. It also suspended Beneco Assistant General Manager Engr. Melchor Licoben for 45 days, with NEA finding him administratively liable for simple negligence as a first offense.

“Although the above findings of

NEA in the administrative cases were limited to the administrative liabilities of the respondents, the matters unearthed therein strongly suggest that there was criminal fraud (i.e., estafa and/or other deceits, among others) committed by said respondents that resulted to the damage of Beneco, especially its member-consumer-owners,” stated the letter.

NEA had found that the directors “unduly received benefits and allowances, availed of and mismanaged substantial loans to the detriment of Beneco, as well as amended the terms of payment for several of its service providers without the required approval of NEA, among others.”

NEA said the removed directors of Beneco are disqualified for reinstatement or reemployment in any electric cooperative, as well as to run as candidate for a board of director position in any cooperative, with their other monetary benefits forfeited.

Beneco’s rating as an electric cooperative has regressed to category C from AAA in the 2019 overall performance assessment.