TACLOBAN CITY-Consumers, particularly parents, are being urged to exercise caution when buying trendy squeezy dumpling toys that resemble steamed buns after a toxics watchdog raised concerns over possible chemical risks linked to the products.

BAN Toxics issued the alert after the toys, which have recently gained popularity online, became widely available in retail stores and online shopping platforms.

The food-like toys come in various sizes and colors, with some variants containing glitter. They are sold for about P65 to P120 in retail stores and P55 to P155 on online shopping platforms.

The consumer group said the warning was prompted by a product recall issued by the United Kingdom government in June over squeezy dumpling toys found to contain excessive concentrations of benzene.

Citing the UK Office for Product Safety and Standards, BAN Toxics said the recalled product posed a serious chemical risk because its outer layer contained 20 milligrams of benzene per kilogram.

Exposure to benzene may cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, while exposure to large amounts may result in a burning sensation in the digestive tract and skin irritation, the group said.

The World Health Organization has also linked human exposure to benzene to various acute and long-term adverse health effects, including cancer and blood-related disorders.

“Children tend to put toys in their mouths. Food-like squeezy dumpling toys may appear harmless and playful, yet they may contain chemicals that pose risks to a child’s health and development,” said Thony Dizon, advocacy and campaign officer of BAN Toxics.

Dizon said such products may also violate existing toy safety standards in the Philippines.
Under Republic Act No. 10620, or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of 2013, all toys and games sold, distributed, donated, imported or manufactured in the country must comply with applicable toy safety and labeling requirements under the Philippine National Standards.

The law’s implementing rules and regulations designate the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Trade and Industry as the primary agencies responsible for enforcing toy safety requirements.

The FDA, with assistance from the DTI and other concerned agencies, is tasked with conducting inspections, monitoring establishments, conducting market surveillance and collecting product samples to determine compliance.

BAN Toxics called on the FDA, DTI and local government units to conduct post-marketing surveillance and enforcement operations against potentially unsafe squeezy dumpling toys.
The group also urged authorities to issue public health advisories and implement appropriate measures, including product recalls, if violations are confirmed.

BAN Toxics reminded parents and consumers to read product information and check for required safety labeling before buying toys.

It also advised consumers to choose toys appropriate for a child’s age and developmental abilities, avoid products with strong chemical odors and exercise caution with toys that may contain potentially harmful substances in their colors, materials or components.
Consumers may also check toys and childcare articles through the FDA Verification Portal for relevant public health advisories before purchasing.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY — A false alarm of a possible shooting sent students scrambling out of the San Jose National High School here on Friday, July 24, prompting school officials to cancel afternoon classes and underscoring the lingering trauma from a deadly shooting at the campus last month.

The commotion began after loud shouts and banging sounds were heard from the Grade 12 building, where students were conducting an English class activity.

According to information gathered by Leyte Samar Daily Express, a teacher asked a student to sing in front of the class. While singing, the student invited his girlfriend to join him, exciting the rest of the class. Some students began banging their chairs, creating a loud noise that was mistaken by students in a nearby building for gunfire.

Panic quickly spread as students ran out of their classrooms and attempted to leave the school premises.

Several students suffered wounds on their knees and hands after stumbling during the rush.

Others reportedly experienced hyperventilation and shock and were taken out of the campus in ambulances provided by the city government.

A Grade 10 student said she heard students screaming as they ran from their classrooms.
“This made us scared and panicked. At first, we tried to stay inside, but when we saw other students panicking and shouting, we decided to leave our room,” she said.

She was later found outside the school gate with her classmates, with wounds on her knees and hands.

Parent Eva Solayao said she rushed to the school after learning about the incident to fetch her Grade 9 daughter, who suffered wounds on both knees during the stampede.
“She told me that they forced the gate open to get out,” Solayao said.

Solayao said her daughter was still traumatized by the June 22 shooting at the same school, where she saw one of her classmates being shot.

“She saw her classmate being shot by the suspect, and until now, she is still traumatized,” Solayao said.

Another parent, Russel Balais, also hurried to the school after learning about the latest incident to fetch her Grade 7 son.

“I hurried here when I learned that there was another incident at the school. My son was still in his classroom when I picked him up,” Balais said.

The parents said the panic among the students was understandable given the trauma caused by the June 22 shooting, which left three students dead and 20 others wounded.
The incident occurred less than a month after the school had been placed under heightened security following the deadly attack. The school has about 1,500 students and more than 100 personnel.

One of the suspects, a 15-year-old student, is facing three counts of murder, three counts of frustrated murder and multiple counts of physical injuries in connection with the June 22 shooting.

Police were investigating the latest incident, while school authorities and local officials responded to the panic and assisted students who were injured or suffered distress during the rush to leave the campus.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Transport operators, drivers, and other stakeholders in southern and western Leyte may soon save hours of travel to access government services following the signing of an agreement to establish a Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) extension office in Baybay City.

The LTFRB regional office and the Baybay city government signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Friday, July 17, for the establishment of the extension office, which is expected to serve clients from Baybay City, nearby municipalities, and neighboring areas in Southern Leyte.

LTFRB Regional Director Gualberto Gualberto and Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos “Boying” Cari signed the agreement during a ceremonial signing.

The proposed office is expected to provide basic frontline LTFRB services closer to transport stakeholders who currently need to travel to the agency’s regional office in Palo, Leyte.

Officials said clients from some areas covered by the proposed extension office currently have to travel more than 100 kilometers to reach the LTFRB regional office in Palo town, resulting in additional transportation costs and time away from work.

Under the agreement, the Baybay city government will provide temporary office space and personnel to support the operations of the extension office.

Mayor Cari also committed a parcel of land within the Baybay City Government Center as the future site of a permanent LTFRB Extension Office.

The initiative is intended to decentralize frontline government services and make transactions more accessible to transport operators, drivers, and other stakeholders in areas located far from the regional office.

The establishment of the extension office was made possible through the cooperation of the LTFRB, the Baybay City Government, and the Office of Leyte Fifth District Representative Carl Cari.

The LTFRB is responsible for regulating land-based public transportation franchises and services, including the processing of applications and other transactions involving public utility vehicles.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre said proposed reforms to the party-list system are intended to strengthen sectoral representation in Congress by imposing clearer eligibility requirements, improving accountability, and preventing the concentration of seats among a few groups.

Acidre said the proposed Party-list Reform Act seeks to ensure that the system remains a genuine platform for the representation of marginalized and underrepresented sectors.
“The proposed reforms are intended to preserve the integrity of the party-list system and ensure that it remains a genuine platform for sectoral representation,” he said in a statement.

Among the proposed measures are a ban on political dynasties within the party-list system, restrictions on newly elected local government officials from immediately seeking party-list seats, and higher competency standards for party-list nominees.

The proposal also includes mandatory training requirements intended to ensure that nominees possess the knowledge and capacity needed to perform their legislative responsibilities.

Acidre said the reforms are aimed at addressing concerns over the party-list system while strengthening public confidence in the sectoral representation process.

He also pointed to the significant laws and legislative measures enacted through the participation of party-list representatives over the years.

According to Acidre, the proposed reforms would promote greater transparency and accountability while ensuring that party-list representatives genuinely represent the sectors they are mandated to serve.

He said the proposed Party-list Reform Act is ultimately intended to preserve the party-list system as an important avenue for broader and more inclusive representation in the House of Representatives.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)