An environmental group has lauded the Quezon City government for establishing a task force aimed at protecting women and children from the harmful effects of mercury found in skin-lightening products.
In a press release on Monday, EcoWaste Coalition commended the city’s leadership for issuing Executive Order No. 2, Series of 2025, under which the task force was created. The order strengthens the enforcement of the citywide ban on cosmetics containing mercury.
The task force, headed by the Quezon City Health Department (QCHD), will be led by the City Health Officer as chairperson, with the head of the Special Services Division serving as vice chairperson. The Food-Drug Regulation Section will act as the secretariat for the initiative.
EcoWaste Coalition campaigner Manny Calonzo praised the move, saying, “We commend Mayor Joy Belmonte and the QCHD for their earnest efforts to reinforce the enforcement of the landmark ordinance banning the manufacture, distribution, and sale of mercury-laced cosmetics in the city.”
Calonzo further noted that the issuance of the executive order is “an early Women’s Day gift for women, especially pregnant women and unborn babies, who are particularly vulnerable to mercury toxicity.”
Mercury, when present in skin-lightening products, poses significant health risks. According to the World Health Organization, exposure can lead to skin rashes, scarring, and discoloration, as well as long-term damage to the nervous, renal, and immune systems. It can also contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
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